Chapter Text
By the time Will returns to himself it’s probably some time in the afternoon based off the light coming through the basement window.
His head is swimming, he feels disoriented, and there’s a migraine steadily pulsing right behind his eyes, but at least he’s present. He’s in his body, he can think for himself, feel his surroundings, see everything in the basement he and the rest of the party practically grew up in. Most importantly is that the cold is gone.
I mean, Not gone exactly, but waning. Less present. It was no longer freezing down to his bones, no longer so cold he could see his breath, and he was no longer shaking violent from the frigid air that had been around him.
Will let out a sigh. Not a big, dramatic one. Quiet. Almost… relieved. Thankful that his… episode was over.
He stood up slowly, wincing as joints protested and popped, then made his way upstairs. Quiet, almost sneakily, will crept to the garage. He didn’t want Mike anyone to follow him. He just… needed a moment to breathe, to think, without everyone’s eyes boring into him with worry, or concern, or fear. Will grabbed a bike, ‘Mike’s bike’ his brain unhelpful supplied, and made his escape.
He biked around the neighborhood for a bit. Through the streets they used to race down when they were kids, past the houses, and mailboxes, and people, none of which had really changed despite how much everything else had.
For the first time in a long time will felt free. Almost like he could close his eyes and pretend like none of it had happened. That they’d all grown up together, playing dnd, and biking, and getting milkshakes, and growing up like normal kids. He could almost pretend the upside down had never happened. He’d never been taken. Never been chased by nightmare creatures in a strange world, never been tormented by a beast made of shadows and dust, never been attacked by a horrifying flesh version of that very same creature that had shattered his mind.
He could almost, almost pretend that he’s never watched his friends move on without him, grow up while he was frozen in place. That he had never been replaced by new people who were more interesting, funnier, happier. That he had never moved to California and the gap between them hadn’t grown into a gaping chasm.
The cold wind whipped past him as he plunged down a steep hill on the bike, the jacket he had borrowed from Mike doing little to protect him from the cold. Yet it was almost as if the cold wasn’t there, his body numb and his heart pounding from the physical exertion.
As he rode, he remained lost in his thoughts, no specific destination in mind, no finish line, no end. Because really there wasn’t anywhere for him to go anymore. He, Mike, Lucas, and Dustin no longer spent much time as a group. Dustin was always off volunteering with, or hanging out with Robin and Steve, or calling Susie. Jonathan was with Nancy most of the time, Argyle had returned to California, El was training with Hopper and mom, Mike was avoiding him, and Lucas spent most of his time at Max’s bed side in Hawkins general.
Max.
Almost as if something had been guiding him, he came to a stop right outside of Hawkins general. It almost felt like something was pulling him, calling him inside. It had been too long since he had visited Max anyways. It had been a while since he had anyone to go with him, and going on his own felt wrong in a way, so he had just… stopped going to visit all together.
‘Jealous,’ whispered something deep inside him, a part of himself he had always tried to bury, to shove down, to ignore. Because deep down Will was jealous of Max in a way. Poor Max who had suffered so much, who was now in a coma fighting for her life while will was awake and fine and being so… selfish.
But that voice, the one he tried to smother, was still there whispering, ‘at least people care about Max. But you… you are pathetic William. No one cares for the freak. The queer. No one care for you’
Will took a deep breath and shook his head, as if trying to rattle the voice out of his head with the almost violent movement. He didn’t have time to be self centered when his friends were hurt and the world was ending. He was probably being dramatic anyways.
Will got off the bike and began walking it over to the bike rack near the hospital entrance, his head pulsing with the same headache from earlier.
The sound of a ticking clock echoed in the world around him as Will put his bike on the bike rack and started walking into the hospital to visit his friend.
And if a trail of blood began to trickle from his nose as 5 chimes rang out in his head…. Well, who cares anyways.