Mike almost hadn’t heard Will say it, a whispered breath, if not for the fact that they were close, both of them lying down on Will’s single bed, their knees and arms pressing softly together as they were on their sides, looking at one another. The comforter had fallen to one side when Mike had climbed into the bed, seconds after Will woke up, a scream lodged in his throat, ready to be let out but not quite making it past his lips. He sat up suddenly, breathing hard, trying desperately to get some much needed air into his lungs, understanding that he had a nightmare, a mantra of I’m okay, it’s not real, I’m fine murmured faintly, the words’ meaning lost in the darkness that surrounded him.

He chocked back on a sob, feeling a little helpless that after two years he still woke up in the middle of the night after dreaming about the Upside Down. He had started to tremble a little, his frame shaking slightly in time with his sobs, growing in intensity. Which is why he didn’t notice Mike having woken up and making his way into Will’s bed.

The bed dipped slightly with the additional weight, and Mike gently took Will’s hand in his own, tracing his thumb softly over the back of Will’s hand, attempting to calm Will down. He succeeded, if only for a few blessed seconds, when Will turned his head to look at Mike, eyes damp and tears slowly sinking down his cheeks, before another sob broke free. He had turned fully on his side, and Mike took advantage of their positions to get close to Will, now holding his hand tightly in his, and bringing their foreheads together.

He lifted his free hand up, slowly and sweetly catching the tears that still fell loose from Will’s eyelashes and wiping them away with his fingers.

Will released a harsh breath, his sobs having died down not too long before Mike got close, and he felt the relief crashing on him. He closed his eyes, basking in the warmth of Mike’s body heat and the last remains of his nightmare dissipated, his mind filling up with thoughts of his best friend so near him.

“Are you feeling better Will?”, Mike’s voice broke through his musing. Will opened his eyes, looking down at their entwined hands. He smiled faintly, before nudging Mike’s forehead gently.

“Yes”, replied Will, speaking very softly, and meaning it. He felt cozy, and protected, as if nothing could break the bubble they had formed around themselves, and Will was not going anywhere, which he probably wouldn’t if Mike had any say in it.

“Good”, breathed Mike, while he nuzzled his face against Will’s cheek, feeling impossible happy that Will was there with him, unharmed, alive. Sometimes, Mike also had nightmares, though he hadn’t really told anyone about them, of Will disappearing again. One moment Mike was touching him and the next he dispersed in the darkness, becoming dust and blowing away from him. Being so close to Will and breathing him in calmed Mike down, let him know that Will was really there, assured him that he had come back, made it through a possession and was still there, with him, with Mike.

But Mike also wanted Will to sleep comfortably, which is why he was about to move, sit up from the bed and go lie down on the sleeping bag again, make an effort to fall asleep once more.

He didn’t get very far, however, when he heard it.

“Please stay.”

Will’s hand tightened it’s hold on Mike’s own, not letting him slip away, and tugged softly on it when Mike lied back down on the bed. Mike complied, moving along with Will, and before he understood what Will was trying to do, Mike was being cuddled.

Will had changed their positions, with Mike now resting his head on Will’s chest, noting with slight satisfaction the motion of Will’s beating heart right in his ears, a content sigh making it’s way past his parted lips. Mike proceed to rest his hands on Will’s back, hugging him close, and Will’s own hands circled around Mike’s neck, resting his head on Mike’s soft curls. He softly kissed the top of Mike’s head before going back to his previous position, not taking too long to fall asleep, having a far happier dream this time.

Mike chuckled slightly to himself, finding their cuddling stances quite funny as he felt his feet slip off the bed slightly, dangling in the night air. Mike had shot up even more in the past few years, achieving quite an impressive height, and while Will also had become taller, he was still dwarfed when he stood next to Mike. And in that instance, Mike felt their difference in height even more pronounced. He wiggled his toes for a little bit, a silly smile still present on his face, before he embraced Will a little closer to himself, letting his head rest more comfortably against him.

They both slept peacefully throughout the night, snug against each other.