Wake up, Mike!
//a byler series finale fix-it fic//
part one //
Mike isn't sure when it started, or why, but it seems all he can do is stare out the window anymore.
He tried moving his desk so it's facing the wall rather than facing the window, but that didn't help because now he just stands at the window, holding his coffee and staring out and ignoring his writing even more.
He's gotten stuck. Something about the story isn't working right. It used to come so easily to him, back when everyone else was here, but now that everyone's gone it's gotten a lot harder.
He used to be able to just call or bike over and ask Will. He used to be able to get Will to draw him a picture from the story and just like magic, it would shake something loose in him. It would get the story flowing again.
But Will isn't here anymore.
Dustin isn't either.
Max and Lucas are still here, but Mike barely sees them anymore. They're both too busy with their new jobs and each other to have much time for him anymore.
(And then there's El. And he doesn't know what to do about El. Because either way, she left him. And not in the way the others left him. Because he can, at least, still call the others. He can't call El. Not even on the walkie-talkie. Not anymore.)
It never rains anymore, either. Every day Mike stands in front of his window, staring out at the world and every day, it's the same.
A perfect, cloudless blue sky. Everything is perfect now. Maybe that's why Mike can't write. Maybe he needs disaster and destruction. Maybe there's something wrong with him that he can't enjoy these quiet and languidly peaceful days the world has seen fit to gift him.
And it should be a gift, shouldn't it?
This is what they fought for, wasn't it?
Quiet, peace, and stability?
So why does he feel so afraid? Why does all this blissful peace and quiet feel like a bad taste on his tongue?
There must be something wrong with him. That simply must be the answer, right?
There must be something wrong with him.
(And why does he miss Will so much? Why does he miss Will the most? Everyone is gone, not just Will, and yet it's Will's absence that feels the most like a dagger in his side.
This isn't like when Will went away to California, either. That had always, for whatever reason, felt temporary.
This feels permanent. Like Will is going to meet all these new and amazing people and leave him behind forever.)
There simply must be something wrong with him.
He can't stop staring out the window.