This Is Christmas

He's Back

The storm, no.. It's the upside down. The upside down making its way into the real world. It's taking over. The citizens of Hawkins are planning to stay until the "bad weather" and "sinkholes" cease. The fear of losing everyone, the fear of losing their home, the fear of losing Mike.

Will rose from his bed out of breath. Sweat dripped down his forehead down to his chin falling off onto his sheets. He was shaking violently. He could feel it. He could feel Vecna. He was getting stronger again. Will reached for the back of his neck teary eyed. He then lowered his arm on his bed. He tried to breathe in and out to stop the shaking but nothing was working and the thunderstorm outside wasn't helping. Suddenly, his bedroom lights started to flicker.

"It's just the electricity.. The rain... It's fine.... I'm fine... I'm.." Will felt a hand on his should and fell back off his bed wide eyed. There was no one there. Out of breath he quickly got up and ran out of the room and down the hall, then right in front of the boy stood his greatest fear, Vecna.

"No.." Will mumbled falling back onto the floor. He squeezed his eyes shut too, his arms wrapped around himself, a failed attempt to comfort himself. "Mike.. Mike..." Will called out for help. When he noticed nothing was happening he slowly opened his eyes peering up. Vecna was gone. "I can't.. Be here." Will mumbled getting up frustrated.

Without an another word he ran outside into the pouring rain. He wanted to see Mike, he needed to see Mike. He just wanted to be with him. When he was with Mike he felt safe, safer than he did with anyone else. Even his mother. Mike did something to him, Will knew what it was. Will loved Michael. He was the only person he wanted when in the hospital all those years ago. The only person who could pull him from Vecna's grip. He was his heart.

Will ran all the way down the street to Mike's house. He quickly knocked on the door, practically banging. "MIKE! Mike!" He felt so helpless, tears streamed down his face and he felt his knees growing weak. "Mike.." He knocked one more time. The door opened. It was Mike, his mother right behind.
"Will?! Will, what happened?!" Mike asked worried. Will stood there shivering and when he saw Mike his eyes softened. He smiled and walked a step forward before falling over onto him. Luckily for Will, Mike instantly took a hold of him.

"Mike..." Will mumbled before going fully unconscious. Mike felt his heart sink and went on his knees still holding onto Will.
"Oh my god, I'll go call his mom, you take him to your room!" Karen then ran over to the wired phone. "Will, wake up!" Mike yelled worried. When Will didn't respond. Mike then picked Will up and closed the door shielding them from the pouring rain.

He quickly took him to the bathroom and sat him down against the wall. Mike was panicking and knocked over a bottle in the bathroom as he tried to get a towel to dry Will. Once a towel was in hand Mike patted Will down and dried his hair. As he did this Will's groaned opening his eyes. The room was bright but Mike seemed even brighter to Will. "Mike...?" Will barely spoke.
"Will! Thank god, you're okay!" Mike instantly hugged him and this took Will by surprise. After a moment of shock he hugged him back eyes squeezed shut. Mike held on even tighter.

It felt just as good as it did when he was little. The warmth he felt, Mike's scent, it was all the same.
"Will, tell me what happened?" Mike asked as he pulled away.
"I.. I had a nightmare." Will mumbled.
"A nightmare?" Mike asked confused.
"It wasn't just that. Hawkins.. It's... We're... And Vecna, when I woke up he was there! He grabbed me, I swear he did. I was so scared, Mike.. I..."
"You're okay now, I won't let him get you again, okay?" Mike took him by the shoulders. Will gazed into Mike's eyes. He seemed so sure of it. He seemed so certain that he could keep Will safe and Will believed it too, for a moment.

"Thanks, Mike.. And I'm sorry." Will looked down at his hands. "What, why are you saying sorry? I'm glad you came to me for help! I'm here for you, Will. Always." Will felt his stomach twist as Mike spoke. "Now, let's get you changed. You're gonna get sick." Mike got up holding a hand out for Will with a smile. That genuine smile Will loved so much, it was there on Mike's face. He couldn't help but smile too. He took his hand and Mike pulled him up. He let go of his hand and walked to his room.
"Choose anything you want from my drawer, there." Mike pointed.
"Thanks." Will said and grabbed a shirt and shorts. "Are these okay?" Will asked holding them up. "Anything's fine." Mike said as he sat on his bed. Will's smile grew even bigger. "You can change in my closet or the bathroom, wherever is fine." Will nodded walking into the closet. Mike quickly got up and closed the door for him. Will initially thought it was odd but realized it was a sweet gesture. He then changed quickly. He then heard Karen call for Mike.
"Mike! Is Will awake? His mom is asking for him!" Will then opened the closet door.
"Uh, yeah! He's coming!" Mike yelled back. Will headed towards the stairs when Holly came out of her room.
"What's happening..? Why is he here?" She mumbled.
"It's nothing, Holly, just go back to bed." Mike said.
"But, Mike, what's happening?" Holly asked rubbing her eyes.
"Hollyyyyy... Just... Will, go, lemme take care of her." Mike leading Holly into her room.
"Okay." Will said walking down the stairs.

"There you are, are you okay?" She asked worried.
"I'm fine, I'm so sorry that I woke you guys up.." Will apologized.
"Will, Will?" Joyce could be heard over the phone.
"It's okay, I'm just glad you didn't wake up Ted." She said rolling her eyes. "Here, your mom wants to talk to you." Karen handed him the phone.
"Mom?"
"Will! Oh, honey, what happened?" She asked worried.
"MOM, HOLLY'S NOT GOING BACK TO BED!" Mike yelled from upstairs.
"Okay, I'm coming just shhh!" Karen ran upstairs.
"Mom.. I keep seeing him." Will whispered. Joyce went quiet. "I just.. I wanted to be with Mike." Will exclaimed.
"I was right across the hall, honey. Why didn't you just come to me?" She asked.
"I.. Don't know. I needed Mike, it's hard to explain." Joyce sighed.
"I'm coming right now, okay-"
"No, mom, it's late and raining heavy. I'll just walk home."
"You can't walk home in this weather, Will. Maybe ask Karen if you can stay with them tonight. I don't want you to faint again, okay, sweetie?" She asked.
"Okay, mom... And I'm sorry for worrying you." Will mumbled.
"It's okay, Will. I love you."
"I love you too, mom." Will leaned on one leg. Joyce ended the call. Will sighed and hung the phone up.

"You can stay." Mike said standing at the bottom of the steps.
"Mike! You scared me." Will laughed a little. Mike smiled again.
"Sorry." Mike said. Will smiled walking past him.
"So, we're having a sleep over after like what, a whole year or two?" Will asked excited.
"Well, when you put it like that it makes it sound so childish." Mike rolled his eyes with a smirk.

"Hey, did you even ask your mom if I can stay over?" Will asked standing at the top of the stairs.
"No, he didn't." Karen said closing the door to Holly's room as she glared at Mike who's smile faded. Her gaze then shifted to Will.
"But you can. It's raining really hard out there and I don't feel like driving anyone home." She sighed hand on hip.

"Thank you so much." Will said grateful.
"Don't mention it, good night, boys." She said walking into her bedroom.
"Goodnight." Will said facing Karen.
"Night!" Mike said as he walked into his room.