✓ | 𝐓𝐄𝐀𝐌 (BYLER)

𝒙𝒊𝒊. SUPERHERO

━━━━ 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠 !
𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐖𝐄𝐋𝐕𝐄

Approximately five hours had elapsed since Eleven's arrest. To Will, it felt like five years. He couldn't stop hyperventilating about where his step-sister had been transported to. The police station refused to disclose any information regarding her whereabouts, which made his anxiety skyrocket even higher.

Will found himself seated at the kitchen counter in utter silence. He softly tapped his fingers against the countertop, producing a consistent beat.

In similar fashion, Mike was slouched on the sofa, his leg bouncing from anxiousness. His forehead was shielded by his clammy palms. It appeared as if he were using his hands to prohibit new notions from penetrating his brain.

Jonathan paced back and forth across the living room in an attempt to gather his thoughts. He occasionally grunted to himself and ran his fingers through his unkempt hair.

After several uneventful moments, the boys were startled by a series of bright headlights reflecting off of the windows. The glares instantly captured everyone's undivided attention.

Mike and Will flew out of their seats as Jonathan unlatched the front door. In the driveway sat an expensive-looking car, black and newly polished. Before the boys could further question the sight, Ellen Stinson and her colleagues, Agent Harmon and Agent Wallace, stepped out of the vehicle.

˗ˏˋ꒰ 🎱 ꒱

Soon enough, the three government agents had infiltrated the Byers' living room. Mike, Will, and Jonathan plopped themselves onto the couch as Agent Stinson began to explain why she and her teammates had arrived so unexpectedly. None of her words registered inside of Will's head. Mike and Jonathan were just as puzzled as he was.

Agent Stinson provided the boys with a relatively short summary, explaining that Hawkins was in great danger due to a series of outlandish killings occurring over the past couple of days. She also informed them that El was in the midst of training to regain her powers, but she didn't reveal where the training took place. Instead, she classified it as a "top secret location" and assured the boys that El was one-hundred percent safe.

"I'm sorry, I guess I'm having trouble understanding any of this," Jonathan hissed. "I mean, what exactly is going on in Hawkins? What's doing these killings?"

"That's what we're trying to ascertain," Agent Stinson replied.

"Where is El, like, right now?" Mike asked in a demanding tone.

"For her safety, it's best you don't know."

"This is insane! This is insane!" The ravenette rose from his spot on the couch and ran his fingers through his shaggy hair in distress.

"So, this training to get El's powers back . . . how long is it gonna take?" Jonathan asked.

"It could take weeks, it could take months," Agent Stinson shrugged nonchalantly.

"Months?" Will gasped, his hazel eyes widening.

"Until then, agents Harmon and Wallace here will stay with you."

"We're not the ones in danger," Mike protested.

"Our friends live in Hawkins," Will argued.

"My family lives in Hawkins," The Wheeler boy added.

"And I'll work to contain the situation until Eleven is ready," Agent Stinson raised her voice. "In the meantime, it is of vital importance that you do not speak to anyone about this."

"No! No way!" Mike scoffed.

"I know this is difficult to understand."

"It's not difficult. This is impossible," He retorted.

"There are factions within our government who are working directly against Eleven, who are, in fact, searching for her as we speak. We can't risk contact. If they learn about any of this, it will jeopardize Eleven. And if Eleven is jeopardized, so are your friends. And so is your family."

"So, what? We're just supposed to trust that you're the good guys? Whoever you are?" Mike scoffed.

"We're friends of Owens," Agent Stinson affirmed.

Everyone grew silent at the mention of Dr. Sam Owens. None of the boys had expected the government agents to be affiliated with him. The room was so quiet, one could hear a pin drop.

"Eleven trusted us," The woman continued. "Now we're asking the same from you."

Just then, she yanked an envelope out from the pockets of her business suit, examined it for a moment, and handed it to Mike.

"For you," She nodded as he snatched the envelope from her hand.

Jonathan and Will each let out a heavy sigh. The entire situation was too overwhelming for them to handle at the moment. Meanwhile, Mike had maneuvered his way into El's bedroom, tore open the envelope, and discovered a handwritten note.

Dear Mike,
I have gone to become a superhero again.
From, El

He folded the letter back up just as speedily as he had ripped it open. His mouth was drier than a desert — nothing felt real. He hadn't even noticed the fact that El wrote "from" instead of "love" for the first time. He was so absorbed in his thoughts that he hadn't caught sight of Will watching him from the doorframe.

"Mike?" He spoke, his voice somewhat hoarse. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just tired," Mike lied, abruptly standing up and scrambling out of the room before pausing to lock eyes with the boy. "I'm going to bed. Night, Will."

"Oh, um, okay," Will sputtered, his Adam's apple bobbing as he swallowed. "Night, Mike."

Mike struggled to fall asleep that night. He spent about an hour and a half tossing and turning, occasionally flipping his pillow over to access the cooler side. Nothing seemed to do the trick.

Moments later, he felt an urge to burst into Will's bedroom and snuggle up next to him like they had done when they were younger. Mike vividly remembered comforting his best friend during their sleepovers after he had a nightmare. He would ease him through it and eventually climb under the covers to lay beside him.

He knew for certain that being beside Will would help him doze off, but he hastily shoved that idea aside. It was cute when they were children, but it would be strange to do as teenagers, especially considering the fact that they were both boys.

Once he managed to clear his mind, Mike fell into a deep slumber. He didn't remember exactly what he had dreamt about, but he knew for certain that Will was involved.

𝐀𝐔𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐑'𝐒 𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐄 !
someone needs to put noah schnapp in the writer's room for season five because we all know he'd make byler canon