how to mend a broken heart

eleven

matteo woke up suddenly, he glanced at wills clock. it was barely past 1am. he rubbed the sleep out of his eyes, trying to understand why he had awaken only a few hours of rest. his question was answered quickly as will started thrashing around in his bed, screaming something about a demogorgon and the upside down? but then he started yelling mikes name and help. matteo stood up immediately and ran over to will, at this point will was muttering matteos name instead of mike. at this point diaz was shaking the smaller boys shoulders, trying to get will to wake up.

eventually, when matteo was nearly panicking and ready to go get joyce or el or anyone for help will woke up with a gasp. he clutched onto matteos hoodie like it was his lifeline.

"hey byers, look at me. you're okay" matteo whispered, pushing wills hair off his sweaty forehead. it was clear will was out of it, having a panic attack. the boy began to sob, resting his head on matteos shoulder. matteo, unsure of what to do went with his gut feeling and climbed into bed with will. will moved closer to diaz, tucking his head in the crook between matteos head and shoulder.

after about twenty minutes of matteo rubbing wills back and repeating that he was here and will was okay and safe, the byers boys breath started to regulate.

once will fully came to it, his face flushed and he pulled away from matteo immediately. "oh god i- im so sorry" he rambled, very close to panicking once again

matteo took wills head gently in his hand and turned it so will was facing him. "will you have nothing to be sorry for. i highly doubt you chose to have those nightmares. and you saved me from a world of pain tonight. this is the least i can do for you." he gently brushed a piece of wills hair behind his ear and cupped wills face in his hand.

in so little time diaz had become attached to this boy, ever since what happened last time, he'd sworn off getting attached to anyone. let alone angelic looking boys like byers. yet as hard as matteo tried, he was drawn to will. so as he sat there, he pulled will closer to him. as though they were the only thing eachother had left in the world. in a way, that was true.

will had to leave everything he loved behind, mike, castle byers, his home, his friends. everything. and all he had left was his mom, who worked constantly. same for jonathan and el. el was sweet to him, she was but she also almost always wanted to speak about mike. which sent a stabbing pain into wills heart.

now, matteo was a different story. he didn't let anyone in. not because like will he had government secrets he couldn't tell and no one would believe but because he was scared. the last boy he loved and trusted left. no explanation he just left. so since then matteo hasn't let anyone know him, no one sees his pain other than his sister because she goes through some of it along side him, but no one truly knew him. and he wanted to keep it that way. or he was trying his hardest to, until he met will byers.

will came into his life like an angel on earth. byers saw through him, he didn't take his bullshit jokes as deflections. he saw through his walls and matteo knew that. he knew that even if he tried to hide it, will would see through eventually. so, he didn't something he hadn't done in years. he had let will in. he had been affectionate towards the boy, let the other boy treat his wounds, told will where his bruises and cuts name from; when he told everyone else he was just clumsy, or he got into fights. he really liked the angelic boy, a lot. and he wasn't gonna let this one leave, not like last time.

matteo felt wills breathing slow, and he glanced down. will was curled up against him, his head resting on matteos chest. diaz ran a hand through wills hair. the boy stirred a bit, smiling slightly. yknow, no ones played with my hair in a long time

"ooo can i braid it tomorrow byers?" matteo said laughing softly

wills smile got bigger, "go for it diaz"

the boy smiled back, his fingers still tangeled in wills hair. but his smile faded quickly, and words escaped his mouth before he could stop it. "you're not a burden will". there he was. being affectionate again.

will froze, and glanced up at matteo. he tilted his head as though studying him. "you're not a burden either, and you're a good person diaz"

and with that will fell asleep, his chest rising and falling in steady rhythms. matteo didn't fall asleep for another hour. he simply laid there staring at the ceiling. it's insane how much one person can change your life is so little time.

and will byers, this human angel, had sure as hell changed his for the better.