Mike wheeler one-shots

My Safe Place Is You

All credits go to BewitchingNotes

Five times the party members comfort Mike, and one time Mike comes to them willingly.
TW:child abuse

1

Talking to Will has always been easy.

Mike didn't like to put one friend over the other, but in a life-or-death situation, he would probably call Will his best friend if he absolutely had to.

He just made it so easy. Will always listened to whatever he had to say with complete understanding and consideration.

Will was just so...gentle.

That was something he truly loved about both Will and El, both were so incredibly gentle, a feeling Mike didn't get to experience much growing up. He loved the others with all his heart, but something about Will and El's gentle presence made him feel so incredibly warm.

There has never been anything Mike couldn't tell Will.

Even when his dad first hit him when he was little. Will had listened and sympathized, claiming his dad would hurt him too.

It made Mike feel less alone.

"I got ice, movies, popcorn and cocoa." Will announced as he brought the stuff to the living room.

Mike couldn't talk. His throat felt smashed closed. Dark blemishes wrapped around it like a scarf.

But Will was unbothered. He set the mug of cocoa down in front of Mike with a smile. "I thought we could watch Star Wars again."

Mike gave no response, so Will turned it on.

He sat down next to Mike and started pressing the ice to some of the bruises on his arm. Tonight had been one of the more brutal times.

"You should drink the cocoa; it will help your throat." He insisted softly.

But Mike felt like he couldn't move. He was in a daze, unable to do anymore than just sit there.

Will knew what was happening. He'd seen Mike dissociate a few times, and as unsettling as it could be, he also knew all he could do was wait.

"Jonathan showed me more music, maybe we could listen to some later. It helps me not think about things." Will added with a smile.

He continued to ice Mike's bruises as Mike sat there, and eventually, about a half hour into the movie, Mike seemed to return to his body.

"...Hurts..." He muttered.

"Yeah, it's gonna hurt for a while." Will told him apologetically. "Wanna tell me what happened?"

Mike stared at his lap. "Got a B on a test."

Will's chest ached painfully. A B wasn't even that bad. And even if it had been an F, Mike didn't deserve this kind of punishment.

Nobody did.

"Close your eyes." Will told him.

"Why?" Mike mumbled curiously.

Will smiled. "Just do it."

Mike complied and closed his eyes, and it was then that Will could make out just how exhausted he was.

But he continued on with his plan anyways.

"Imagine your perfect day. What does it look like?" Will asked.

Mike hummed a little. "El and I are making out." Will snorted as Mike grinned a little. "We eat breakfast together in her cabin with the chief. Then we go see you guys at the arcade and play games for a while. El's not very good and sometimes breaks the machines when she gets mad." His voice his hoarse, but his tone fond nonetheless. "Lucas and Max are arguing over something stupid, but they still get a milkshake with one straw when we go to eat afterwards. Dustin is being obnoxious with his food, grossing you out. Lucas finally smacks him and gets him to stop. We all eat and then go see a movie. It's a scary movie and I end up clinging to El because I'm allowed to be weak when I'm around her, and then we ride our bikes home, talking about how excited we are to do it all again the next day."