𝐎𝐑 𝐒𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐋𝐃 𝐈 𝐆𝐎 - 𝐵𝑌𝐿𝐸𝑅

If You Say That You Are Mine

Will

Day Four after the earthquake

"So can we please agree not to repeat last night?" Jonathan sighs tiredly from his position on the basement couch, head cradled in his hands while Lucas nods beside him. Will bites at his thumb nail, nearly down to the bed at this point. He shifts uncomfortably against the wall, the head of Mike's body practically singeing him through his clothes.
   
"Yeah, and how come no one called me?" Lucas pouts at the three preteens across from him, arms crossed over his chest. Mike huffs beside Will, clearly annoyed at the continued lecture they're receiving. Steve and Nancy already laid into them last night for leaving the car, and now this.

"We didn't do it on purpose." Dustin says from the small table he's perched on. Will's hands come up to rub his arms, shivering in the chill of the basement. Dustin continues to placate Lucas while Mike turns his head towards Will.

"Are you cold?" he asks in a whisper, like he's afraid someone will hear him talking to his best friend for once. Will shrugs, glancing around and not finding a blanket. He's not really cold, at least he wasn't two minutes ago before that permanent chill seemed to hit him once again. "Here." Mike hands him something, and Will realizes it's his bright blue jacket he was wearing earlier.

"Are you sure?" Will blushes a deep scarlet, having a hard time meeting his friends eyes. Mike is only giving it to him because he's shivering obnoxiously, but Will can't help but read into it. Shut up, idiot. He's in love with El. Mike nods and pushes it into the other boys  chest, who quickly takes it and pulls it over his head. The sweatshirt smells like Mike's sandalwood deodorant he's used since middle school and something distinctly Mike and familiar.

"Are you guys even listening?" Will tears his eyes away from Mike to see Lucas, Dustin, and Jonathan all looking at him expectantly. He shakes his head sheepishly. "Well, we were talking about where Vecna could be hiding." Will's body goes cold at the mention of it, limbs turning to lead where he stands.

"Hell if I know. Have they checked that factory the mind flayer was using?"  Mike move to sit in a nearby chair, Will remains where he is, unsure if his legs have turned to jello or not.

"Yep." His brother says, popping the p. "Nothing there either. The house is empty too, no signs that one is hiding out." Lucas sighs, folding nearly in half to lay his forehead on his knee.
"What the hell are we going it do? It's seriously starting to feel like we lost." He laments, and the rest of the party seems to deflate, like all the airs been sucked out of the room.

"We kind of did." Dustin sighs, and Will has a feeling he's thinking about Eddie again. He can't imagine what it was like to watch your friend die in your arms. Poor Dustin. And no one was there.

"We did lose." It's Mike who agrees surprisingly, scratching at his chin. "But if you think about it- we kind of didn't. Losing would mean we don't stand a chance anymore, but that's not true."

"What do you mean?" Will asks, moving to sit beside his brother on the couch now that he's calmed down. His hands tuck into the sleeves of his hoodie, trying to ignore the misty look in Dustin's eyes.

"I mean, it's like the campaign we did with Erica. All of us were eventually wiped out, everyone but her. The stakes were high and the odds were low, it was nearly impossible to defeat vecna. But then, it happened. All it took was one lucky roll and a few well timed moves and we won." Mike kicks his feet up onto the table behind Dustin like motivational speeches are the easiest thing in the world.

"So you're saying we lost the battle but we can still win the war?" Lucas sits forward now, a small smile on his lips.
   
"The way I see it, every fight we've ever had has been a battle leading up to this. The demogorgon, Mind Flayer, Shadow Monster- all of it. We know it's been One all along, and now this is the beginning of the end." Dustin adds, his face void of a smile.