𝐁𝐮𝐫𝐲 𝐔𝐬 𝐀𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞 ; ᴹᶦᵏᵉ ᵂʰᵉᵉˡᵉʳ

iii ; The Case Of The Missing Lifeguard

<•>

Fantasy music awakens Mike and Lucas who slept on the floor and couch respectively. Mike groans as he looks up at Will and Ian, dressed up as their D&D personas. Will was dressed as a cleric, and Ian a rogue who looked more like an elf, but he did the best with what he had.

"What the hell?" Lucas questions

"It's D&D day. I tried coming Dustin but he didn't answer, I think he's kinda mad at us for ditching him the other day" Ian explains with a half-whisper. He tugs at his dark green and gold decorated garment, pulling it away from his neck.

Mike sits up, standing up as Lucas leans against the support beam that held the phone behind them.

"Let me eat breakfast first," Mike yawns, rubbing his eyes.

"I'm gonna get a shower," Lucas adds as the two walk upstairs.

Ian and Will sigh, sitting down as they talk about the campaign they were about to run. You can't play D&D without at least four players, as both Ian and Will wanted to play as Dungeon Master, but it'd be okay. They'd lessen the harsh attacks for the two boys upstairs. They planned out an entire new storyline in the spring, and wanted to play it with their friends.

"So the hoard of Juju Zombies could get their attack lowered by your casting.. but I think we can make the hoard smaller for them" Ian suggests, readjusting the fake elf ears.

"Yeah" Will nods, flipping around some papers in the open binder.

Eventually Mike returns from upstairs, informing that Lucas would be down in a few as he sat down at the table. Ian pulls Mike away for a moment as he sees a not entertained look on his face. Ian grabs him by the wrist, leading him into the bathroom.

"You better not do that pouty-face shit right now. Will is your best fucking friend and you will play Dungeons and Dragons with us." Ian says quickly and sternly, holding onto Mike's collar. "Got me?"

Mike's eyes widen, taken aback, "Uh- oh-okay"

Ian gives the boy a small smile, "Good"

Ian slams his lips into Mike's for a quick moment, pulling away before the raven haired boy could even react. Just as Ian was about to walk away, Mike pulled him back, resting his left hand on Ian's right cheek.

Lucas had interrupted the two as he walked down the stairs, announcing he was back. They quickly jump apart, excited to go and sit at the table. Lucas grabs a can of Coke from off the table in front of the couch, cracking it open as Will starts the game.

"The village needs your help!-"

<•>

It was now storming, somewhere in the late afternoon as the four boys happily played D&D together. But, one thing was still on their minds, Dustin. Wherever the curly haired kid was, he better be okay, otherwise the four would've decided to throw hands with whoever had hurt him.

Mike had called quits for a minute, needing to eat again as he retreated upstairs to get some food. Will sighs, looking outside at the storm as Lucas stands up, following Mike upstairs. Ian and Will were left in the basement again, bored.

Will groans after checking the clock, the other two boys being upstairs for over ten minutes. He knew Lucas and Mike were just putting on some fake smile, unable to show genuine interest in the game. Will rips his costume off as Ian watches in confusion.

"What are you doing?" Ian asks, sort of panicked by the fact that Will was clearly upset.

"Wanna go home. I need to take care of the dog" Will replies dryly.

"In the rain? I can go with you?" Ian offers.

"It's-its fine, really" Will smiles, stuffing the costume in his backpack.

Ian sighs, following Will upstairs and outside to his bike, "Are you mad? I'm sorry if I did something."

"I'm fine, really. I- I just need to go home"

Mike sees the open front door and Ian on the porch, running out while Lucas stays at the door.

"Will? Where are you going?" Mike questions.

"Home. I need to ask my mom something and I have to clean my room and stuff" Will quickly speaks, mounting his bike and riding off.

Ian looks at Mike, confused, silently telling him he didn't know what just happened. Mike looks back at Lucas, telling him to go get their stuff and come back up as they were gonna go after Will.

"What happened?" Mike asks.

"I-I dunno. He was just saying he wanted to go home and acting weird, I have no idea" Ian shrugs, looking off into the distance with worry as he pulls off his fake elf ears and flower crown.

Lucas rushes back up with multiple backpacks in hand. Ian and Mike were already mounting their bikes as Lucas threw the backpacks towards them, running to his.

The three boys ride off, chasing after Will who was nowhere in sight. He probably already made his way back home due to Lucas taking so long.

Arriving at the Byers household, Mike knocks on the door, calling for Will. They're unaware that he was far in the woods, crying in Castle Byers.

Will just wanted everything to go back the way it was before.

Before Eleven and Max. Before he went missing. He was constantly feeling sick or had to sit back and get possessed, and watch Lucas be all lovey dovey with his girlfriend all the time. He couldn't just live like a normal kid.

That's why he took a bat to Castle Byers.

He'd never be normal again.

Ever.

There was a superpowered girl and he got kidnapped and possessed by real life monsters.

He felt everyone was disappointed in him and he couldn't do anything but watch. His childhood was ripped from his hands, and he had to sit back and watch.

Mike, Lucas and Ian emerge from the bushes, calling for Will as they see him destroying Castle Byers.

Will throws the baseball bat down as he reaches for the nape of his neck, feeling goosebumps shrivel up his spine.

Ian rushes to his aid, trying to talk to him as he whispers.

"He's back"

<•>

AN - sorry for the short chapter, since there's no milevin shit and all that I had to try and make a reason for Will to go home and feel the mind flayer so yeah :/ ig were keeping the teen boy angst shit

published ; july 27 2022
edited ; may 8 2025
edited 2.0 ; dec 6 2026