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ghoulsanderson · 2 years ago

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Before I go, rough scenes that would’ve been in CTA <3

The chain snapped, links disentwining with each other, and the catwalk fell slanted half into the water. Will screamed, grasping at the remaining chains as it rocked and swayed wildly, creating attention-grabbing waves in the tank, “Shit!”

A strong woosh shook the water as Mike swam up, leaving a trail of bubbles in his path. He peered out of the water, investigating the rusted metal invading his space, his eyes trailing up to Will, where an expression that could only be described as hunting formed on his face, “Fuck…” Will whispered, quivering like a leaf as Mike’s dorsal fins flexed, his claws glinting as they came out of the water, “Shit- hey- Mike!”

Claws scraped against the catwalk, scratching off the chipped paint as Mike dragged himself onto it, slowly getting closer and closer to Will, “Mike!” He yelled, trying desperately to get away, but his feet slipped around, and he couldn’t reach any of the other chains, let alone try. He’d throw the weight of the catwalk and send himself diving into the water.

Mike’s teeth bared, and a growl rippled from his throat as he advanced on his prey, his pupils becoming thinner and thinner in his frosty eyes. He was actually going to do it. He was going to tear Will apart.

“Mike!” He wailed, tears springing in his eyes. No, no, no, no, “I-It’s me! Mike!”

Mike began to crawl over him, raining salty water on Will’s clothes as he grew closer and closer, “Mike!” Will sobbed, his breath heaving in his chest. He kicked his legs lamely, but against Mike’s tough tail, the impacts didn’t phase him. He had seconds left until teeth ripped into his neck, dooming him with a gruesome demise he’d seen Mike deliver to fish.

“Mike! It’s me- you know me!” He screamed as Mike was finally hovering over him. His long tail remained dipped in the water. He felt like a giant.

Mike growled a satisfied, excited rumble and stretched his jaw, a harrowing sight into his gaping mouth, long pointed tongue, and rows of razor-sharp teeth, all too familiar to those of a Demogoron.

Will screamed in terror, eyes squeezed shut, “For fucks sake, it’s me! It’s Will! Please Mike, please please-”

He flinched, nearly letting go of the chains when something touched his face. Or rather, hit it, but it oddly didn’t feel intentional.

Will, struggling for breath, cracked his eyes open and blinked away the veil of tears to see Mike’s aggressive mannerisms had softened. His dorsal fins were no longer flexed, and his pupils had expanded again to near-circles, like a curious feline.

The claws of his face created surface-level cuts, but again, it didn’t seem intentional as Mike pressed his mouth like it was a button, expressing curious confusion.

Will didn’t move. He didn’t dare breathe, only allowing himself a blink of surprise when a sound came from Mike.

It was sweet, unlike anything else he’d heard from him before. It wasn’t the chirp he’d given Nancy on the first day. It was like a purr, vibrating deep in Mike’s throat, “Mike…” He whispered a weak breath Will barely managed.

Mike drew back, eyebrows furrowing, and for a moment, Will was petrified he’d ignited the predator instinct inside Mike’s brain again until, once more, Mike pushed at his lips, his own pouted. Will’s heart no longer raced in just fear, “Mike…” He whispered, gaining his courage back in spouts, “It’s Will… You know me… Your Will…”

His elf-like ears twitched, the webbing around them fluttering, but beyond that, Mike didn’t react for a short while. He stared for what felt like a lifetime, perfectly still like a picture aside from the drops of water sliding off of strands of his hair, and then-

“Will?”

Will’s grasp on the chain loosened in shock. It didn’t sound like Mike knew him. He pronounced the letters more like a hissed ‘With’, but his name was clearly familiar, like the misty memory of an old friend.

Will supposed that’s what he is.

Will opened his mouth again to respond, to try and urge more from Mike, or maybe just to break into sobs, but a screech cut him off as a tranq dart embedded itself into Mike’s neck.

“Mike!” He wailed as the other boy fell from the catwalk, creating a large splash, “Fuck!”

He spun to the culprit, Nancy, who could barely keep her grasp on the tranq gun.

“Will!”

Will woke with a yelp as he was dragged across the floor, “What-”

“You were asleep against the tank!” Jonathan exclaimed, “What if Mike had hit the glass?”

Will’s stomach twisted in dread at the thought, but when he looked into the tank, Mike wasn’t aggressive. He was curled up, asleep right where Will had been, pressed to the glass on the other side. Jonathan realised it too. His words trailed off.

Will’s heart hammered as he realised Mike had curled up beside him on the other side. He could’ve killed him. He could’ve slammed his tail into the glass and shattered his skull, but he hadn’t.

He’d swam to Will and slept beside him.

Will sniffled, “Can you even understand me?” He asked, and Mike tilted his head at the words, but it was clear he didn’t grasp them.

Mike swam in a perfect circle, his spine bent inhumanly far. It made sense, Will supposed, that Mike’s bones would have plenty of leeway. A lot of fish don’t have bones, and if they do it’s often flexible cartilage. It was still eerie to see him create a perfect hoop. He sighed and turned away, resuming his moping.

Mike knocked on the tank, making Will flinch. He had a frustrated crease between his eyebrows, and once Will was watching him again, he twirled like a ballerina and created a circle out of himself.

Will paused. With every stunt, Mike would glance at him for his reaction and then perform another. Was… was Mike trying to cheer him up?

The thought alone conjured a hopeful smile, and Mike mirrored it.

“Will!” Jonathan yelled, “Don’t! He’s tricking you!”

Will clenched his fists. Maybe Jonathan was right, but in his heart, Will couldn’t believe it. He still knew Mike. He recognised the stubborn glint in his eyes.

Mike circled in the water below. His fins were not raised. He swam in a calm pattern. He wasn’t eagerly awaiting to rip Will to pieces, at least, Will hoped.

But if he were to die, there was no other’s hand he’d accept to kill him.

Over the thumping of his heart in his ears, he could barely hear his family’s screams as he stepped off, plummeting into the water below.

Time froze for a minute. Water gushed around him, and after a moment of shock as the freezing water encased him, he kicked his legs to the surface.

It felt like any minute he would feel claws shred open his stomach, and his chest convulsed with the urge to take frantic breaths.

He broke the surface with a gasp, catching his breath. He looked down and he couldn’t see Mike, and fear curled in his gut. He tried to still himself, to control his breath and slow his heart in case the echo of the beats in the water reached Mike’s impressive ears and triggered some sort of predator instinct.

“Will!” Joyce cried, but her son ignored her, “Will get out of there! Will!”

Will wiped the water from his eyes. Where’s Mike? He thought, but something brushed against his legs, and it took everything in him not to kick in panic and scream.

He spun around, but nothing was there. When he turned again, he gasped.

Mike peeked out of the water slightly. His nose and below was still underwater, but his eyes were fixed hard on Will.

They weren’t skinny slits, Will noted. His claws weren’t at the ready, and his fins weren’t flexed, so he wasn’t about to immediately be torn into, but Mike wasn’t relaxed either. His eyes were ovals, rounded, but guarded, and there was a safe distance between them that Will guessed wasn’t for his benefit.

“Mike.” Will gasped.

The other boy cocked his head curiously. His eyes scanned him up and down slowly, and Will’s heart jolted as his pupils thinned.

Apparently, Mike didn’t find what he was looking for, however. Whether it was a weapon or something else like food, Will wasn’t sure, but upon not finding it, he relaxed again and dipped below the water.

Will remained achingly stiff, so much so that it was hard to stay above water as Mike swam around his legs. His hands grabbed Will’s calves, his claws making surface-level cuts. It was accidental, and when Will hissed and flinched, Mike let go like he was burned, something apologetic in the way he nudged his head against Will’s stomach.

Whatever investigation Mike was performing satisfied him, and he returned to the surface with a chirp, copying the bounces Will’s kicks caused.

Will deflated with a shocked breath. Mike hadn’t attacked him. Mike wasn’t attacking.

He looked to his family, who were just as shocked, watching the scene with bated breaths, “Hey,” Will whispered, clearing his throat when it came out weak, “Hey.”

Mike eyed Will’s mouth, eyebrows furrowing. A confused bird-like purr vibrated in his throat.

Will ghosted his hand over Mike’s tail. The scales were incredibly smooth, and the gel-like, transparent skin on his dorsal fins, between sharp, dark supporting bones, shimmered like an oil spill.

He was beautiful.

Mike was stiff, twitching every now and then as Will trailed his fingers over Mike’s body. Will couldn’t imagine anyone had ever touched him gently. Mike watched him investigate with nervous intrigue, almost like he couldn’t believe Will wasn’t hurting him. It broke his heart.

It was getting harder to breathe. Will never wanted to leave the tank, but his fingers wrinkled, and his legs cramped. He groaned quietly, looking to the rope ladder and decided he’d sit on it and use it to hold himself up, but when he turned and swam toward it, a clawed hand grabbed his ankle and yanked him back.

Will jumped, “Wha-”

Mike didn’t growl perse, but his purr was definitely unhappy. Will stayed still, cautious, and when Mike’s face untensed, he tried to swim away again, but once more, Mike dragged him back with more force, enough to send him flying through the water for a few moments. and he placed himself between Will and the exit.

“Mike-”

He grumbled again, harder this time.

On the ledge at the top of the tank, El lifted her hand, ready. Joyce’s leg bounced rapidly, Jonathan bit his nails nervously, and Nancy shifted, her hand creeping closer to the tranq gun.

Will frowned, “Mike,” He kicked his legs sluggishly, “I’m tired.”

He let himself fall beneath the water momentarily to demonstrate, then rose and pretended to cough, taking a deep breath.

Mike finally seemed to get it, and something akin to panic flashed in his eyes. He grabbed Will’s hands and put them on his shoulders.

Will’s eyebrows shot up. He expected Mike to let him swim away, not to support him, “T-Thanks.” He stammered and swam backwards slowly to the ladder, holding Mike’s gaze.

He breathed in relief when he sat on one of the bars, giving his legs a break, and Mike relaxed when he saw that Will wasn’t leaving.

--.

“We know he won’t hurt me.” Will shrugged, “If I’m there, he probably won’t hurt you, either.”

Nancy scoffed, “And if he does? What makes you think you’ll be safe if I piss him off?”

Mike swam up to him, letting Will wrap him in a hug and leaning into it. He purred happily, “I missed you too.” Will chuckled as they parted, and Mike was smiling until he saw Nancy prepare to go down the ladder.

His head snapped to her, and he growled softly as he moved and tucked himself into Will’s side, who held him tight and swiped his thumb over the patch of soft, shiny scales on his ribs.

“She’s not going to hurt you.” Will assured him, and despite not understanding the words specifically, Will’s calmness bled to Mike, who stopped grinding his teeth.

Nancy took slow steps down the ladder. Her bright swim dress made it clear she wasn’t hiding any weapons, but Mide stayed cautious. They couldn’t blame him. With the amount of times he’d been tricked or hurt by similar stunts, it would be odd if he trusted them blindly.

Nancy swam over.

Mike looked at the hand snapped his teeth. Nancy gasped, yanking her fingers back in terror, but Mike didn’t try to hurt her again, and when she looked at him, he was grinning mischeviously.

They gaped in disbelief.

“You-” Nancy scoffed, and Mike didn’t laugh, but his chirp was close enough.

He’s still a little shit. Nancy laughed and found herself ruffling his semi-dry curls before she could catch herself.

Mike flinched like she’d hit him, staring at her with wide, icy blue eyes and thin pupils. His fins flexed, and she drew back, expecting him to pounce but his reaction melted into something vulnerable and glossy-eyed, and he knocked her hand with a carefully closed fist until she hesitantly did it again.

It hit her that Mike couldn’t remember a lick of happiness in his life. He couldn’t remember their mother’s forehead kisses, or Joyce’s tight hugs, or Jonathan’s arm around his shoulders. Mike, in this state, had no idea what kind affection was like. He’d never experienced it.

Okay xxx goodbye everyone. I’ll keep my account up but I’m deleting tumblr and Twitter x

#byler fics #fanfics #mike wheeler #mike wheeler angst #byler #byler ao3 #byler week #will byers #byler is real #bylerfics

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ghoulsanderson · 2 years ago

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Scene from a scrapped fic before I delete the doc

“That’s me.” He grinned and moved to duck behind a few boxes, but Vecna already had a hand outstretched and lifted Mike off the floor without touching him, “Hey!!” Mike yelled, but he didn’t have the chance to say anything more as he was thrown like a ragdoll into the hard wooden walls.

He hit the wall hard.

Mike hit the wall so hard he couldn’t even yelp. He fell to the floor limp, warmth seeping around the back of his head, soaking into his hair, and by some grace of god, conscious. But his vision was blurred as if he were wearing the wrong pair of glasses, and he couldn’t move.

As his mind cleared from the impact, Mike tried desperately to regain control, but he could barely twitch his fingers. All he could do was lay and listen to his own beating heart filling his ears like he was underwater and taste the coppery blood trickling down his throat like saliva.

Fuck fuck get up! He thought desperately as the ground started to rumble with approaching footsteps. For fuck sake, please let me move!

Mike blinked rapidly to clear his vision, choking slightly as his breathing sped up with every nearing thud. He whimpered when his vision cleared to a familiar, grey figure hovering over him, “You always are the wrench in my plans.” Vecna growled.

Mike coughed, sending blood erupting from his throat and splattering across his face. It’s my talent. He thought, and judging by the clenched fists, Vecna heard him.

But he finally rolled onto his side, letting the blood dribble down his chin, “I should have killed you.”

Mike groaned as feeling resorted to his body, but with feeling came agony, and a tortured wail burst out of his throat as he extended his working arm and pushed his legs, trying to get away. But it did little good. His limbs still refused to listen to him, and the more he slithered, the harder it became.

Mike glanced down and cursed weakly as blood joined the smears of dirt in his Hellfire shirt, spilling across the previously white fabric. Had one of his ribs broken and pieced his skin? That had to be it. Now he thought about it, he could feel the bone sticking out.

He stopped thinking about it and pushed harder to crawl toward the door.

“You are nothing but a waste of air. An embodiment of all I hate about humanity.” Vecna hissed, stalking him slowly like a predator, cocky and lazy. They both knew Mike couldn’t escape, even if he could sprint. Even if he could fly.

“Fuck you.” Mike gasped out as he crawled away on his stomach, leaving behind a trail of blood.

Vecna cackled like a witch, taking a sudden and quick step forward that had Mike flinching away with a whimper, half expecting to be chucked across the room again, “But you won’t be able to help your friends again.”

Mike sobbed weakly, pushing himself a little harder even if it ignited fiery pain coursing through every inch of him, “What are you g-going to do?” He scoffed, tears cascading down his cheeks as he reached a bloodied hand for the door, “Kill me?”

Vecna grinned, waiting until Mike’s hand was through the gap between the door and the doorframe, “No.” He waved his hand, slamming the door shut on Mike’s hand and holding it shut as a series of sickening breaks rang out, and Mike screamed his throat hoarse, trying and failing to tug his hand free, “But I’ll make you pay.”

“Stop!” Mike screamed, rattling his own eardrums with his shrill screeches, “Fuck! Stop it stop it- shit- let me go! Let me fucking go!”

He couldn’t even feel the flaring pain in his dislocated shoulder as he smacked the ground with his free hand, writhing as the door crushed his bones, “Fuck!” He shrieked. The pain was making him crazy, pulling apart his brain like a knot.

Vecna finally let the door go, and for a moment, it was like a breath of fresh air until he yanked the broken hand to his chest and looked down to see blotches of black and twilight purple like the shades of a midnight sky, “Shit shit shit…” He sobbed, head to the floor, he curled into a ball.

It felt like he’d dipped his hand in acid. It throbbed and twinged and shook so hard it was like it was vibrating, “Y-You broke my f-fucking hand!” Mike spat, his ribs creaking as he hyperventilated, choking on his tears, “W-Why don’t you just kill me, you psycho?!”

“I should have,” Vecna scoffed down at the boy writhing on the floor, “But kill you, kill the illusion, and I’d like to keep William distracted for a little while longer.”

Mike glared through a wall of tears, “Don’t you fucking touch him!” He wailed, breaking into sobs as he tried to push himself up.

Vecna shook his head and leaned down, running his fingers through Mike’s hair with a coo who sunk down again, whimpering as he failed to recoil from the touch, “Don’t you worry. You won’t be around to see it.”

His claw tightened, wrenching a scream out of Mike as he lifted him by his hair, dragging him out of the door and down the attic steps, “Let me go!” Mike yelled, kicking his legs to no avail, “You slimy fuck!”

Vecna scowled, reeling his arm back to toss Mike down the remaining steps.

Mike shrieked as he tumbled and landed at the feet of the steps, his agony growing tenfold, “Shit…” He sniffled, holding his broken hand to his chest. He could no longer feel his dislocated arm.

“You never shut up, do you?” Vecna sighed, prowling down the stairs as Mike’s body shook with his cries, his legs kicking to try and escape, “No wonder William and Eleven prefer your clone.”

Mike screamed in the back of his throat, jaw clenched as he turned onto his stomach again, dragging himself along with his elbow and his legs, “That’s not fucking true!” He sobbed, but the fact they were yet to notice the difference made his voice crack and thin.

Vecna laughed, “You don’t sound so sure, Michael.” He taunted, following Mike along, stepping in the smears of blood he left behind, “Are you afraid that a fake will take your place?”

Mike growled and hooked his arm around a pillar, careful of the blotches of purple spread across his hand and tried to pull himself up, only to be kicked down again by a foot to his back.

Pain rippled across his ribs, and he gasped, clutching them as he trembled, “Have you g-got nothing better to do?!” Mike shouted, sobbing as Vecna flipped him over and leaned down, hovering over him like a lion inspecting a meal.

“I did.” The monster huffed, and Mike shrank at his vile breath, whimpers slipping from his throat as their faces grew closer until there was barely an inch between them, “But you foiled my plan.”

Mike whined, kicking his legs at Vecna’s chest, “Get the fuck away from me, you creep!” He cried, thrashing.

Vecna briefly cocked his head, a nauseating snap bouncing off the walls of the house. For a moment, Mike didn’t realise what he’d done, but soon, pure agony flared in his leg, and he screamed, frightening the demo bats and dogs and gorgons for miles.

Vecna stood, leering over him, just watching as Mike looked down at his crooked leg, broken at the knee and spewed a series of curses.

But he was pliant, and Vecna dragged him by his hair through the house until they reached the basement, where vines sprouted, covering every inch like the roots of a tree, “Have fun dying here.” He smirked, throwing him down the steps again.

Mike’s only reply was tears.

#byler fics #fanfics #mike wheeler #mike wheeler angst #byler #byler ao3 #byler week #will byers #byler is real #bylerfics #stranger things #stranger things season five

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