Hear me out. Cleradin AU, but Paladin Mike gets sent to the regular world and when he sees Will he instantly falls to his knees. (Bonus points if The Party is also present to see this)
And Mike from the regular world changes places with Paladin Mike and he sees that Will is like a fucking Prince, or his Cleric, his Sorcerer.
The gist being that Paladin Mike swore an oath to himself to always protect the most important thing in his life, Will. And regular Mike is not surprised that Will is something great in every universe.
Double bonus points if Paladin Mike thinks that they're lovers in this world, and he's horrified to learn that they're not. He doesn't understand why; it makes no sense for Mike to not be with his Love in every universe.
We all love Paladin Mike, who kissed Will's hand down on one knee, I know, me too.
But have we ever considered Paladin Mike, who paused dead in his tracks as he saw William after months of fruitless search?
That when he finally closed the distance, he let go of his sword and it fell to the ground with the same thud as his knees, when they met with the grass beneath Will's feet.
That the next thing that he did was wrap his arms tightly, almost painfully, around his lover's waist with a wrecked sound, as if Will was his holy salvation; the thread of Mike's life brought back to his hands.
That a sob was pulled from his lips when a shaky hand brushed against his hair, fingers hesitantly threading through the strands, as if Will wasn't sure if he was still allowed.
As if Mike wouldn't let him decide between his own life and death.
So to calm him down, he took that hand into his own and pressed soft kisses, wet with tears against his palm, relishing in the warmth he thought he would never hold again.
And when Mike finally looked up into his beloved's eyes, he couldn't turn his gaze away.
There's been a murder in Hawkins. The victim got mauled, police say. Nothing like they've ever seen. Maybe they have a missing limb, maybe a chunk of their throat is gone. It's gnarly. The body is... everywhere.
First responders state that at first they weren't sure what they were even looking at.
There are no bears in the Hawkins' forest, no wolves, so... what the hell got them? It's only a matter of hours before the news spreads around.
(this got long so the rest is under the cut)
On the same day, Will goes missing.
Joyce calls his friends' houses. Mike almost throws up when he hears her frantic voice, "Will is not in his room, Mike, he's not here. Have you seen him? Did-- did he go to you? Tell him that I'm not mad, just-- Mike! Are you there?"
They decide not to inform anyone besides people in the know about the UD. Because what if it's something paranormal again? What if it's back? The lab people? Upside down? Monsters?
It's the middle of the night when Mike hears it. The little tap, tap, tapping against his bedroom window. He rises up, and there's Will right behind the glass.
Mike's breath catches.
He dashes across his room to yank the window open, almost ripping it off its hinges. He pulls the boy inside.
But then he turns on the lamp standing on his table and sees it. Sees it. Blood. It's everywhere. His clothes are drenched. "Will. Will, oh my God," Mike's hands grab at the hem of Will's shirt, pulling it up. To look for any injuries, for anything. Did something get him? Was it the monster? The same one that murdered the other person yesterday?
Please, be okay. Please, God, please let him be okay.
"--Mike," Will suddenly speaks up, bringing Mike back to the present.
"Are you okay?" Mike finally whispers. His hands still clutch the red-stained t-shirt. The smell of gore finally registers, and he gags.
"Mike," Will whispers back, and that makes Mike look right at his mouth, or rather at the blood smeared around his lips.
