Real Life Cleric

Chapter Two

Chapter Two

The sound of a chair screeching across the floor started the process of waking Mike up. Though the thing that got him up was his need to pee. A heavy sigh escaped his lips before he pushed himself upright. He scooted towards the end of the couch so as to not step on Will when he noticed the empty sleeping bag on the floor. Mike's breath caught as he looked around for any sign of Will. Eyes widening and darting in anxious rounds. Although he was sure it was impossible, he couldn't bear the thought of anything happening to Will again. Not if he could help it.

Mike's eyes scanned the room until he noticed the bathroom light creeping through the crack of the door. The muscles in his body relaxed for a brief second before he froze again. The bathroom lights were flickering. They were... flickering. Without giving himself time to think, Mike was opening the bathroom door. But nothing could've prepared him to see Will with his right hand outstretched toward the ceiling light, eyes closed with a trickle of blood running down his upper lip.

"Holy shit," the words escaped Mike's mouth without thinking.

Will turned his head, eyes widened and scared. The bathroom door suddenly shut in Mike's face. The taller boy didn't move, he just stared at the door in his face trying to process what he had just seen.

"God, sorry," a voice said from behind the bathroom door. "I- I can explain. I- I- I really didn't-"

"I'm gonna pee," Mike said as he stepped into the bathroom.

"Oh, uh, sure," Will said more to himself than to Mike. He stepped out of the bathroom to watch Mike mechanically walk into it. Turning his gaze to the floor, Will squinted at the floor as he fought back the heat in his eyes. Stupid stupid stupid. Will walked himself over to the couch and put his face in his hands. Shit shit shit. A million thoughts flew through his head.

Why did I have to try at Mike's house? Is here going to be mad I lied? Will he still want to be my friend? Of course, he will, shut up. But what if-

Will looked up to the sound of a door opening to see Mike emerging from the bathroom. His baggy T-Shirt draped over his body in a way that made Will's heart skip a beat, a feeling he was quick to push down. Pushing the curly hair out of his eyes Mike turned a lamp on and took a seat on the couch. He sat so close to Will that he could feel Mike's body heat radiating next to him. It felt nice. More proof of his self-control.

"I-"

"Before you say anything, Mike, I need you to know I'm sorry. I should've told you, I- I just didn't know how and I know that's no excuse but I just couldn't even get-"

"Woah, woah, woah, Will. Slow down." Mike found Will's gaze. "It's okay."

Will took a shaky breath and forced himself to meet his friend's eyes with a nod. His face was bright red from the "heat".

"What was that? In the bathroom?" Mike asked, hoping to ease into the subject.

"Well, um, I don't- I mean- I've been having the episodes, I guess... and uh, well, I just thought that if I could control it that, well, maybe, maybe they wouldn't happen so much." Will knew he was being vague, he wanted to just come out and say it. Say I have powers or something but the words felt too foreign on his tongue, so far from the truth. He felt, almost, undeserving of the description.

"What's been happening? What kind of episodes?"

Will could hear the concern in Mike's voice and practically hear the thoughts running through his head. Memories from last October and the mind flayer.

"Not those kinds of episodes," Will hurried to assure his friend. "Nothing like the last Halloween. More like, well, I guess, I guess when I get nervous, or scared, or sometimes even just like, excited... things just react. Like the lights will flicker, the TV will turn on or, uh, or the door will shut in someone's face."

"Well I got that much," Mike laughed nudging the boy beside him. Will let out a small smile. Glad to lighten the crushing force that had been burying him alive with humor. Something he and all of his friends so excelled at due to their... circumstances.

"But, well, uh, lately these reactions have been getting stronger, happening more frequently and I just thought... what if I hurt someone, Mike?" Will's demeanor suddenly got darker, more serious. "What if something bad happens to someone? Because of me? And- and so, I thought if I could... practice, I guess. That maybe I could prevent that from happening."

"Will, that could never happen. You-"

"No, but it could Mike," tears welled in the boy's eyes. "I- I can't control it and it's only getting stronger! And- and it almost happened to you, with the door..."

"But it didn't Will."

"But it could've, Mike!

But didn't, Will!" Mike took his friend's shoulder and turned him so they were face to face with each other. "It didn't and it never will! You could never do that! And if- and if you somehow did, well, I know you, I know you, and I know it wouldn't be on purpose. That's just not who you are and you can't hate yourself for an accident. How could anyone hate  Will Byers? If anything this just makes you more amazing! Anyways you have me, well I mean you have us! Me and all our friends! Dustin, Lucas, Max, Eleven! And we can figure it out together, Will. Just like we always do! We will figure this out together!"

Will nodded struggling to make eye contact with his friend. He hated (code word for loved but didn't know how to handle it) when Mike did this, monologuing inspirational speeches. Something Mike had a habit of doing. It was corny and lame but it was Mike and Will loved him for it. He didn't think it was possible for his face to feel so red and hot. Not for the first time WIll was beyond thankful for the poor lighting of the lamp in the basement.

"Guess it fits the freak theme, doesn't it?" Will tried, at a loss for words.

"Hey, if anything it's just badass," Mike exclaimed leaning back into the couch. "I mean not that you weren't already, but now you've got superpowers! You're, you're like a real-life Cleric!"

"Yeah."

"That's like the coolest shit ever!"

"Guess that makes you my paladin- well not mine- but like, a real-life paladin."

"I'll ride into battle with my trusty plastic lightsaber! Kill any and all monsters in our path!" Mike laughed. WIll could only smile at his friend.

"Guess we'll have to get you a bat like Steve."

"Hey, I thought the lightsaber was a great idea! Not that I'll need it once you're able to kill demagorgans with a twist of your neck!" Mike smiled at his friend, pantomiming the way Eleven stretches her arm out and twists her neck to kill.

Will laughed and failed to suppress the yawn bubbling at his lips.

"Hey, Will maybe tomorrow we could go to the arcade and see if your new tricks can get us some free games or something?! Imagine having unlimited gaming for life!"

"Yeah... sounds fun!"

Will could barely keep his eyes open, leaning back into the couch next to Mike. Giving in to the heaviness of the night, Will closed his eyes with a comfortable sigh and let himself sink into the cushions. Without even noticing it, he fell asleep with Mike's arm around him. Mike didn't bother to move, he was already half-asleep himself, not that he would've if he had been awake. So if Will's head found its way to Mike's shoulder later in the night, well no one would know. And if Mike's head found its way to rest on Will's head soon after, that was a mystery no one could crack. But if Will had the most refreshing sleep of his life that night, that would be a secret only Will would know. And, maybe, Mike too.