Second Nature

Story (oneshot) written by solarstarss on ao3
8132 words

At first, Mike was unsure how to approach him when he got like this. But they've been living together for months now, never further than five feet apart in their dorm beds, so Mike's learned what works and what doesn't.

It works when he wakes Will like this, with gentle hands and words, telling him he's safe. It works when he climbs into Will's warm bed, turning him on his side and curling up against his back, an arm over his waist and his cheek pressed against his shoulder. They lie together like that until Will's hiccupping gasps soften into steady breaths, until Mike feels him go limp in his arms and he knows he's fallen back asleep. It always works.

or: Will has nightmares and Mike is the only one who can console him. Not even Will's boyfriend can. Mike takes great pride in this fact