The Faces You Wear | Stranger Things

003

Mike practically passed out the second they put a movie on and settled in the fort. Turns out hyperventilating yourself to sleep in jeans and a t-shirt was not the ingredients for a restful bedtime.

He settled down on some squishy pillows on the floor, his hair sprawled out around him with Eleven behind him, her hand combing through his hair and Will in front of him, watching the movie. He swore he'd just close his eyes for a second.

Will chuckled when he heard the soft breaths and saw Mike's face relaxed and squished against his hands, "He never falls asleep during movies." He observed laying on his stomach, lifting a hand to gently poke at Mike's nose while the other supported his head.

Eleven giggled, "Let him sleep. The plane ride must have been hard." She scolded and continued fiddling with the spring-like curls. Mike had told her that he had curly hair, and she'd gotten glimpses of ringlets if it rained or if it were humid but she never imagined his hair would be so curly and shiny.

"...He never stops at just half a meal either," Will whispered as his eyes explored Mike's copper freckles like they were a constellation of stars. He wondered what shape they'd make if he joined them up with a pen.

The static sound and dialogue of the movie filled the silence for a while, as well as Mike's quiet breaths.

"He said he was dizzy. From the plane."

"Bullshit." Will scoffed quietly, "Mike has flown before, he loves plane rides. Nancy hates them."

Eleven frowned, sitting up on her elbows, "Friends don't lie. Why would Mike lie?"

Will shrugged, "No idea. But just look at him. Dark circles, he's thinner, and look at his hands." He pointed to the mangled cuticles and stains of red across his nails, "Mike hasn't really been talking, so when I call Dustin, I ask about Mike and apparently aside from this D&D club Dustin drags him to- practically by his ears by the way and only if he can find him in school, Mike's been totally MIA."

Eleven paused long enough that Will had to evaluate what he said, he smiled, "MIA means like... not around, someone you haven't been able to get a hold of for a while."

Eleven nodded with an 'oh' and cocked her head, "What's wrong with him?" She asked, draping herself over Mike's back as if she could protect him from the whole world.

Will swallowed down a bitter feeling and shook his head, "I have no idea."

Mike shifted a little in his sleep, a hand twitching as if reaching for someone. For a moment, Will took no notice, just resumed watching the movie turning his eyes away from the couple, but then he felt a hand slip underneath his own and felt his heart stop.

Mike had-

Will turned back, watching as in his sleep, Mike reached out for him, pushing his hand beneath Will's

Will fixed his eyes on the screen, but if he took Mike's hand and rubbed over his knuckles with his fist, then nobody needed to know.