American Heroes: A Stranger Things 3 Fic

Nerd Stuff

Everyone is scattered about the food court, busy with whatever plan they'd come up with when Mike and Will were fighting. Will wipes his nose on his sleeve, a line of blood staining the fabric, and shakes out his hands. Now that he's dealt with Mike – or at least, said what he needed to say to him – his focus is now on saying what he needs to say to El.

Max and El are talking at one of the tables while Hopper and Joyce stand beside them. Will starts to head towards them but stops. Something in his gut makes him falter. If he starts asking El about her powers or telling her that he thinks he has powers, there's no turning back. Especially if his mom figures it out, then he just knows he'll never be able to leave the house again. No, there's no reason to talk to El. They're fine now; he doesn't need to figure his powers out, if he actually has any at all. They just have to follow the plan, close the gate, and kill the Mind Flayer. Simple. No reason to worry about anything else.

Lucas and Dustin are hanging around the fountain discussing what Will assumes is their plan. As he approaches, Lucas nods to him. "Where'd you run off to?"

Groaning, Will takes a seat in between him and Dustin, putting his head in his hands. Knowing Mike will rejoin them any second, Will wishes he could've saved his outburst for later when he wouldn't be forced to see Mike again.

"Hello?" Lucas nudges him. "Earth to Will?"

His brain feels like it's about to burst. "Huh?"

"I asked where you ran off to."

Will shakes his head. "Oh. Nowhere."

Lucas gives him a look which he ignores, rubbing his knuckles against his temples to soothe the pounding in his head.

"Are you okay?" Dustin asks.

"Fine."

"Are you sure?"

"I said I'm fine!" The lights in the fountain burst, sending water spraying over them. All three boys jump away from it.

"What the hell?" Lucas says.

Will hugs himself, shame falling over him. "I'm sorry. I lied." Tears well up in his eyes. Lucas and Dustin stare at him. "I had another fight with Mike."

"Wait, seriously?" Dustin says. "Again? About what?"

He almost wants to tell them everything. The kiss at his house and destroying Castle Byers. The kiss at the cabin and their stupid fights. Every single thing Mike's done that's confused him. But no. Even though Mike hurt him, really hurt him, he can't bring himself to betray him like that. He understands how hard it is to keep something he's ashamed of bottled up inside and how terrible it is for people to find out about it without getting the chance to tell them himself.

Letting his anger subside, Will sucks in a breath. "He wanted to talk about what he said to El at the convenience store. You know, the conversation we overheard. I thought it was dumb because why does it even matter? We're trying to get rid of the Mind Flayer, not worry about stupid stuff like that. He got all annoyed and... I don't know. It's like he's giving mixed signals or something. That's the whole problem. It's like I think we're fine, you know? But then he goes and says or does something that he knows hurts me, but he doesn't care. He's not oblivious. I told him he hurt me, and he said he didn't want to, but whenever he says anything anymore, all I do is hurt. And he won't leave me alone."

Realizing his eyes were on the floor, he looks up to see Dustin and Lucas both wide-eyed and blinking.

"Jesus," Dustin murmurs.

"That..." Lucas lets out a whistle. "...that sucks."

Will sighs. "Yeah, it does."

Frowning, Dustin crosses his arms. "Did you explain to him that he's sending you mixed signals?"