Useless || Mike Wheeler Fanfic ||

Part 17 - I'm Sorry

THIRD PERSON POV:

Mike wasn't told ahead of time.

No one told him, so when he entered the kitchen and saw none other than Ted Wheeler sitting and reading the newspaper, he froze in shock.

Karen smiled at him. "Mike! Good news, the court said your father's not guilty!" She says.

Ted turns to look at him, and Mike pales. He slowly nods, before walking off, eyes glazed over with a shocked and terrified expression.

He stumbles into Nancy's room, his breath shaky.

"Mike? What's wrong?" She asks, standing up and walking toward him. Mike's arms were shaking very badly and tears slipped down his cheeks. "Mike? You're scaring me."

"Did- Did you know?" Mike whispers, clutching Nancy's arms.

Nancy frowns. "Know what? What happened?" She asks, concerned. Mike gulped down air, trying to speak. "Hey, breathe. You need to breathe."

"Dad- He's- He's here," Mike whispers so quietly Nancy could barely hear him properly.

But she did hear him, and she went still. "What?" She whispers back, in the same quietness. Mike was trembling all over and Nancy pulled him into a hug as Mike went full glassy eyed. "Okay. We'll figure this out. Okay?"

But Mike didn't hear her. He couldn't hear anything except the buzzing in his ears. He was dissociating. Nancy slowly nudged Mike over to her bed, sitting him down.

"Don't worry, I'll- I'll call the police or something," Nancy says. "We'll work together this time."

Still, Mike couldn't hear her. Nancy rubbed Mike's shoulder as the unresponsive boy stared at the opposite wall. Nancy pulled out her phone and dialed Will's number.

"Nancy? Why are you calling me?" Will answers at the first ring.

"We need help," Nancy whispers, her voice quiet. "Our dad came back. Mike's freaking out and I need you to get your dad."

Will went pale. "Yeah, of course," He says. "Can I talk to Mike?"

"No, he's dissociating, he won't respond to me," Nancy says, concern leaking into her voice. "Please just get your dad."

Will walked out of his room and into the living room, where Hopper and Joyce were talking.

"Baby? What's wrong?" Joyce asks, seeing Will almost in a trance. The phone was a few inches from his ear, but Will gulps and shakily held the phone out to Hopper.

"Nancy's on the other end," Will mutters as Hopper takes it.

The man holds it up to his ear. "What's going on?" He says gruffly, but you could hear the concern in his voice as well.

"Um- Our dad is back," Nancy says softly.

"What?"Hopper practically growls. "Was he not arrested?"

Nancy nods, but then speaks when she remembers he can't see her. "Yeah, but- but the court ruled him not guilty," She says. "No one told us. Mike's dissociating, I don't know what to do!" She fights back a sob.

"Hey, hey, it's gonna be fine," Hopper says. He grabs his keys. "Can you get out of the house without them figuring out?"

"Maybe, but Mike won't listen to me," Nancy says.

Hopper gestures for Will to follow him as he enters the garage. "He'll move if you guide him," He says. "Just guide him outside. We'll deal with the rest."

Nancy nods. "I'll be outside soon."

She hangs up and turns back to Mike, who was still staring at the wall, unresponsive. Nancy gently took Mike by the wrist and stood him up. She made sure he had his phone and carefully pulled her brother out in the hallway.

"We need to leave using the window," Nancy whispers to Mike, just in case he could hear her. He could not, but Nancy felt the need to anyway.

She pulled him toward the window and opened it, gently helping Mike out once she climbed through.

"Jeez, you're as light as a feather," Nancy mumbled, not thinking much of it. She will think about it later.

And then she quickly dragged Mike across the room and down to the grass, which was still wet from the morning rain. She sat down, and pulled Mike so he was sitting next to her. The two siblings waited with baited breath, Nancy wondering how quickly Ted would find out they were gone.

Then a car pulled up next to her, Hopper and Will climbing out of it. Nancy almost burst into tears right then and there, but refrained.

Will ran to Mike's side. "Oh my gosh, are you okay?" He whispers, cupping Mike's face.

"He can't hear you," Hopper says, holding out a hand for Nancy to take. She gratefully does so. "C'mon, we need to leave quickly."

Will helped Mike stand up, and he helped Mike get into the car.

When Mike slowly leaned against Will's shoulder, his head drooping against it, Will was momentarily brought back in time to when the two were about to kiss.

Right? That's what was about to happen? Will thought as Mike closed his eyes.

"He should be back to normal when he wakes up," Hopper says as he starts driving again, Nancy in the passenger's seat. "But when he does, be careful, he'll be.." Hopper pauses, licking his lips as he thinks. "For lack of a better word, fragile."

Will wrapped his arm around Mike protectively and nodded.

...

Mike's eyes fluttered open in Will's bed. His head felt all gooey like and hazy.

But when he sat up, he saw Will sitting against his pillows and sketching on a piece of paper. Will looked up and smiled. "Good morning," He says.

The brunette sounded all soft and cuddly, so it was a no-brainer for Mike to snuggle up against him, his head on top of Will's chest. Will blinks in surprise as Mike wraps his arms around Will's back, snuggling as tight as he could.

"Oh- Hello," Will says, a confused smile playing on his lips. "You still tired?"

"Mhm," Mike mumbles. He smiles as Will rests his hand on Mike's head. "Bubblub," He mumbles, making Will give him an even more confused smile.

"Are you drunk or something?" He laughs. Mike giggles. "Do you water any food or water?"

Mike yawns, booping Will's nose with another burger. "I feel exhausted," He says softly. He stays quiet for a moment. "Do you.. Do you think he'll come and find me?"

"No, I'll keep you safe," Will says firmly, making Mike smile.

"My hero.." Mike mumbles, before dozing off again, listening to Will's heart beat as his consciousness slips away.

<^> To Be Continued

(1k words)

idk why but I love Damsel-In-Distress!Mike and Caretaker!Will