"EVERY BREATH YOU TAKE" Will Byers x Reader

He Likes it Cold // Chapter 15

Y/n's POV 

'I found him like that on the ground,' I whisper to Joyce, once we arrive at her house. She leads Will to his room. 

'Sleep, okay honey?' Joyce says to him gently. Will just nods, closing the door behind him. 'Was it another episode?' She asks me, helping me sit on the couch. 

'Yeah,' I say shakily. 'But I couldn't get into his mind this time. It was like something was blocking me from seeing.' 

'Like-like something in the Upside Down?' Joyce asks. 

'I think so. I don't know what though.' I sigh. 'He's been seeing things.' 

'Like what?' 

'A huge shape in the sky. It's like a monster-like the Demogorgon but bigger.' I explain. 

'Is it after Will?' Joyce whispers. 

'I don't know what it wants.' I shrug hopelessly. 'It keeps coming back.' 

Joyce swallows hard. 

'Doctor Owens, that's the doctor Will's been seeing, he thinks these are just 'episodes' that'll eventually go away,' Joyce starts. 'But I think they're real.' 

'I think so too.' I say. 'That drawing.' I point to it on the coffee table. 'It's the monster that's in the sky.' 

'I saw the same shape on the camera.' Joyce says. 'On Halloween.' 

I inhale. 'That was the other time he was drawn to the Upside Down.' 

Just then, Will comes out of his room. He looks normal, as always, but there's something weird about the way he walks. Like something that almost isn't Will. He barely glances at me as he walks in, sitting straight on the couch. 

'Hey. How you feeling, sleepyhead?' Joyce says softly. 'Any better?' 

'Mmm-mmm.' Will nods. 

'Same as last night? Still weird?' Joyce asks. 

'Yeah.' Will says airily. 

I frown, as Joyce puts a thermometer in Will's mouth. Leaning in closer, I try to read him, get any sense of emotions. But there's nothing there. 

'All right.' Joyce sighs. 'Hmm. Okay, let me see.'

Joyce's eyebrows crease as she reads the small object. 

'Is it a fever?' Will asks. 

'No. Uh, actually, it's cold.' My own heart starts racing- and Will looks up at me as if he senses this. His eyes are the same colour as usual but there's a darkness to them, like an empty pit. Cold fills my chest. 

'Do you feel cold?' Joyce says. 

'No. Just a little out of it.' Will replies. 'Like I haven't really woken up yet. You promised no doctor.' 

'And I meant it. No doctor.' Joyce smiles a bit. 'You know what? I'm gonna run you a nice
bath and it'll warm you up and hopefully get you feeling better. How's that sound?' 

'Okay.' Will agrees. 

I hear Joyce running the water in the bathroom and continue to study Will. 

'What are you looking at?' Will smirks. I look up at him with surprise. 

'Huh?' 

'You're staring,' He says. He doesn't sound mad, but there's a definite edge to his voice. More confident, I guess but it's wrong for Will to sound like that. 

'Sorry,' I say, blushing slightly. 'I just- are you okay?' 

'Yeah?' Will lets out a small chuckle. 'Why wouldn't I be?' 

'It's ready, honey,' Joyce says, coming out of the bathroom. Will glances at me one last time before going into the bathroom. 

'Hey, Joyce,' I say quietly. 

'Yes, sweetie?' 

'There's something off about Will,' I say carefully. 

'What do you mean?' 

'He's not-I can't read him. And there's something different about his behaviour.' 

Joyce regards the bathroom door with concern. 

'I'm sure it's just because of yesterday,' She says uncertainly. 'What-' 

Joyce hesitates for a second. 'Is the tub draining?' 

Just then, Will comes out of the bathroom wearing just a towel. I automatically avert my eyes. 

'It's too hot.' Will says. 

'I can make it a bit cooler, but we have to get your body temperature up,' Joyce says, frowning. 

'No.' Will's hard voice causes me to turn around again. 

'What?' 

'He likes it cold,' Will says.