[Mike blinks, confused at first, and then solemn. He drops his head to the pillow, vaguely aware he's getting the linens dirty but too distracted to care. Only one thought in the world matters, and it's contained between the two of them in the glow of the bedside lamp.]
... Do about what? [A bit slow on the uptake, but the gears are working behind tired, wild, adoring eyes.] I don't- I'm not gonna date El, if that's what-
[His tongue fumbles, certainty faltering, not about his wants but about Will's. Something anxious and fretful starts to stir in his chest, right where that reserve of fear always lies in wait.]
You- I still want to be your- boyfriend. [His voice drops on the last word, barely over a hoarse breath.] Even if it's a secret again.
[Will lies down too, head resting on the pillow, almost nose-to-nose with Mike. Realistically it's not any less close than they were before, but this way he can roll away easily if someone barges in. He can also reach out, take Mike's hand -- the one he's used to having fewer fingers, accustomed to the feel of scar tissue against his knuckles every time he reaches out. It's smaller too, and the fragility of it is scary in a way that makes Will want to wrap Mike up in blankets and safety for the rest of time.
The stammering, stubborn words get another of those brilliant, smitten smiles from Will, and he nudges forward to bump their foreheads together.] I do too. Of course I do. But... [A frown, now, and he looks down at their hands.] But we have to figure out how to be safe. If something...bad happens here, we aren't just gonna wake up in a week.
...plus we have to figure out how to tell El in a way that doesn't make her sad. [Will's very firm on this fact. It's never been about "winning", or hurting El. Especially not now that he's gotten a chance (in Deerington, but still) to actually get to know her.] And what to tell the rest of the guys, and how to be careful and keep it secret and -- how to fix things and save everyone too. [He breaks off in a yawn, covering it with his free hand and repeating, in a voice of wonder:] We can fix it. We can save everyone.
[It's... a lot. More than a lot. For all they know about the next year, it stretches out like a chasm in front of them now, full of pitfalls and mistakes. A treacherous story without a narrator, where every choice could be linked to the ending Steve described. Or rather, the one Billy did, once Mike finally found someone willing to give him the whole, awful truth.
But it's more than just the mall, and the monster made of people-sludge. That's the part Mike anticipated, the part he knew he'd be facing. Navigating the rest of it had fallen to the wayside, behind the certainty that his memories would be wiped clear. There was never a sure path where he got to keep this part of himself, and now that he has it... he feels paralyzed by its weight.
So, he tables it, at least until the morning.]
Maybe we could stop Billy getting possessed at all. [A long shot, but it's been a night for miracles. Why not suggest another one?] I should've asked him more questions.
[Will nods emphatically-- well, he tries, but his weaker, smaller muscles have been through enough tonight, and all he manages is a slight shift down, then up.]
We'll have to watch him. He never told me how it happened, but we know it's in July, right? So we have some time to plan. [Another of those big, jaw-creaking yawns, one Will doesn't bother to cover.] Lots and lots of time.
[Reminding himself of this helps, and Will let's himself relax, pulls Mike's healed, whole hand to his chest and holds onto it tight.] ...you remember everything too. Right?
[Mike tucks himself in close - a less arduous puzzle than normal, with his limbs about half the size he's used to - and laces his fingers through Will's. His own exhaustion is lagging a ways behind, still too caught up in adrenaline, but he'll lay here and keep watch if Will wants to nod off. Warn away loud visitors, if nothing else.]
Everything. [From the second he awoke in that town, alone and terrified, to the last step he took through the lighthouse door.] I'm gonna write it all down, tomorrow. The important stuff, at least. In case it goes away.
You're a good writer. [Will says this emphatically, like he's mid-argument with someone about it. He isn't, he's just tired. His whole body is exhausted, like he's been wrung out. He shifts closer, realizing that a room-sized blanket fort is much more conducive to cuddling than a single-sized bed. He wonders if he'll wake up when Mike goes. He wonders if it'll take a long time to get back to sleep.]
It won't go away. [His eyes are closed now, just for a second. Just a second.] It can't. It's never stayed this long before. [A pause, then Will forces his eyes open, sleepy and bleary, but intently fixed on Mike.] If I forget, you have to remind me. You have to. Okay?
[Well, that's assuming someone actually manages to get Mike to leave, which won't be an easy task. As anxious as he is to see his parents, that will only be after Nancy has to physically drag him out of Will's bed and halfway across town.]
I'll tell you every single day, if I have to. Like that stupid movie from the future that Steve liked.
[That gets a sleepy snort of a laugh.] If you're a boat I'm a boat. Or something. Right?
[He's quiet for a moment, almost long enough to have fallen asleep, then his eyes open again and he bumps his nose against Mike's.] Bird. If you're a bird I'm a bird. [Stupid movie. Nonsensical, sad when it didn't need to be. But he'd liked that part.]
[Mike gives a snorting, sputtering laugh, one that rattles into life and fills up his whole chest, shaking the both of them. He hears Mrs. Byers usher someone else away from the door and wonders again if she knows - and if she knows - but it doesn't matter. Nothing else matters. They get to keep each other. Whatever happens after this, they're going to face it together.]
I'll write down all the movie endings I remember, too. We can pretend we're psychic.
Shhhhhh, don't be so noisy. [Will says it around a giggle that makes his sore muscles ache, one he has to bury against his pillow. It hurts to laugh, but the giddiness in his chest can't be stifled. They did it. They're back and together and they did it.]
Spoil the endings of all the movies. Dustin will be so mad.
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... Do about what? [A bit slow on the uptake, but the gears are working behind tired, wild, adoring eyes.] I don't- I'm not gonna date El, if that's what-
[His tongue fumbles, certainty faltering, not about his wants but about Will's. Something anxious and fretful starts to stir in his chest, right where that reserve of fear always lies in wait.]
You- I still want to be your- boyfriend. [His voice drops on the last word, barely over a hoarse breath.] Even if it's a secret again.
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The stammering, stubborn words get another of those brilliant, smitten smiles from Will, and he nudges forward to bump their foreheads together.] I do too. Of course I do. But... [A frown, now, and he looks down at their hands.] But we have to figure out how to be safe. If something...bad happens here, we aren't just gonna wake up in a week.
...plus we have to figure out how to tell El in a way that doesn't make her sad. [Will's very firm on this fact. It's never been about "winning", or hurting El. Especially not now that he's gotten a chance (in Deerington, but still) to actually get to know her.] And what to tell the rest of the guys, and how to be careful and keep it secret and -- how to fix things and save everyone too. [He breaks off in a yawn, covering it with his free hand and repeating, in a voice of wonder:] We can fix it. We can save everyone.
no subject
But it's more than just the mall, and the monster made of people-sludge. That's the part Mike anticipated, the part he knew he'd be facing. Navigating the rest of it had fallen to the wayside, behind the certainty that his memories would be wiped clear. There was never a sure path where he got to keep this part of himself, and now that he has it... he feels paralyzed by its weight.
So, he tables it, at least until the morning.]
Maybe we could stop Billy getting possessed at all. [A long shot, but it's been a night for miracles. Why not suggest another one?] I should've asked him more questions.
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We'll have to watch him. He never told me how it happened, but we know it's in July, right? So we have some time to plan. [Another of those big, jaw-creaking yawns, one Will doesn't bother to cover.] Lots and lots of time.
[Reminding himself of this helps, and Will let's himself relax, pulls Mike's healed, whole hand to his chest and holds onto it tight.] ...you remember everything too. Right?
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Everything. [From the second he awoke in that town, alone and terrified, to the last step he took through the lighthouse door.] I'm gonna write it all down, tomorrow. The important stuff, at least. In case it goes away.
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It won't go away. [His eyes are closed now, just for a second. Just a second.] It can't. It's never stayed this long before. [A pause, then Will forces his eyes open, sleepy and bleary, but intently fixed on Mike.] If I forget, you have to remind me. You have to. Okay?
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I'll tell you every single day, if I have to. Like that stupid movie from the future that Steve liked.
[He means The Notebook. We're going there.]
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[He's quiet for a moment, almost long enough to have fallen asleep, then his eyes open again and he bumps his nose against Mike's.] Bird. If you're a bird I'm a bird. [Stupid movie. Nonsensical, sad when it didn't need to be. But he'd liked that part.]
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I'll write down all the movie endings I remember, too. We can pretend we're psychic.
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Spoil the endings of all the movies. Dustin will be so mad.