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Mike rolls over to see Will in his bed.
His brown hair glints caramel in the sunlight streaming through the open blinds, tousled and messy. His lips are parted slightly as he breathes deeply, in and out, body rising and falling gently. His long eyelashes rest against his cheek, which presses firmly against the mattress, all squished up and adorable.
It’s the most heartachingly beautiful sight Mike has ever seen, and for a moment, he just stares at it, drinking it in silently.
After a few peaceful moments, Mike reaches out tentatively and rests the back of his fingers against Will’s cheek. He gently rubs it and watches as Will’s eyelashes flutter. Mike feels like he’s going to explode from the cuteness.
“Hey,” He murmurs softly, carefully waking the other boy up. “Hey, Will, wake up,”
He feels his heart thrum in his chest as Will begins to rouse, stretching his arms out and making sweet little grumbling noises that have Mike’s stomach swooping. Eventually Will’s eyes open and land on his, bright and warm, and he grins at Mike as if he’s the best thing he’s ever seen, “Morning,”
“Morning,” Mike replies easily.
Will nuzzles closer to him, landing a soft and clumsy kiss on his cheek. Mike feels himself going warm all over.
“We’re going to be late for school if you don’t hurry,” He says in a low voice, and Will smiles mischievously.
“And that’s a bad thing?” He kisses Mike’s cheek again and burrows even closer, “I don’t mind spending all day in bed with you,”
Mike sits up, feeling his blush spread all over his face and to the tips of his ears. He can never get used to this. This euphoric feeling. Will sits up too, following him, eyes filled with adoration and longing. He rests his forehead against Mike’s and smiles, “Don’t worry. We’re not going to be late. Especially now that you’ve gotten your new car,”
Mike agrees somewhat. Things have been a lot easier transport-wise ever since his parents gifted him a brand new car on his sixteenth birthday. That car is like Mike’s own child.
“Should we get ready, then?” Mike suggests.
“…Yeah,” Will murmurs, still looking at him with those big, beautiful eyes of his. “Yeah, sure,” He rubs his nose against Mike’s, making Mike laugh softly, his heart so full it could burst.
“I love you,” Will says sweetly, breathlessly.
“I love you, too,” It’s so easy. It slips from him like butter. Mike can’t believe how easy it is to say it to Will, whether in response or without any prompting, suddenly uttering it out of nowhere, in the middle of a kiss or during a movie or while they both play video games together.
Because it’s Will. And Mike has wanted him for a long time. Ever since that awful day at the end of summer, when Will left for California.
And now he has him. He’s not just his best friend anymore. He’s his boyfriend.
They kiss once, twice, then thrice. Innocent and brief, chaste — and then Will pulls away, hopping down from the bed and walking towards the bathroom. “I’m going first!”
Mike grins at him stupidly. They always scuffled every morning over who got to go first and Will had a knack for winning the argument. Mike rubs a hand over his warm face, shaking his head to regain a sense of composure. He’s a total mess these days, always in his head and oh so dreamy.
Love really is a strange thing.
Within an hour, the two of them are washed and dressed. Mike looks over at Will’s outfit, a casual blue T-shirt with jeans. Will rifles through his backpack one last time before they have to leave the bedroom.
“Your mom’s great for letting me stay over,” Will says, not looking at him.
“It’s not a problem,”
Will smiles, then quickly zips up his bag and hoists it over his shoulder, “Let’s go,”
Mike wants to ask him something, but he can’t remember what. Something that had come to mind when he had taken in Will’s outfit. He himself has on a hoodie, and thick sweatpants. He’s been feeling a chill for days now but Will never seems similarly affected.
Maybe it’s just him.
The two of them sit through a mostly peaceful breakfast with Mike’s parents and Holly, Nancy having gone off to college. She visited often, bringing home presents and postcards. As Mike smears strawberry jam across his toast, he spares a glance at Will who’s looking at the jam with a slightly displeased expression.
Hardly noticeable, but Mike notices everything when it comes to Will.
“What’s wrong?” He asks softly, unable to help the cheesy way his voice becomes soft and warm around his boyfriend. He pauses, then smiles in understanding, “Ah. You don’t like bits in your jam, do you?”
Will looks at him sheepishly, his hazel eyes wide, “It’s not a problem—“
“I’ll remember to get you the other kind next time,” Mike promises. He’s always liked his strawberry jam with the “bits” in it, but Will has always preferred it smooth and seedless.
His father lets out a low huff, something between amusement and annoyance. Mike looks up at him, only to see him disappear behind his newspaper again, “I like the bits,”
“No one asked you, did they?” His mom replies coyly, giving Mike and Will a big smile. “You two are adorable,”
“ Mom—“ Mike starts, flushing, but Will politely mumbles, “Thank you, Mrs Wheeler,”
“I’ve always known you two were perfect for each other,” Mike’s mother continues, much to his mortification.
“Okay, mom, we get it!”
“I like Will, too,” Holly says shyly, looking up from her cereal. She gets along very well with Will on account of the both of them loving to spend hours drawing and colouring. “He always plays with me,”
“I like you too, Holly,” Will smiles.
By the time it’s time to leave, Mike is a red, flustered mess because of his family. He opens the door to his car and sits in without a word, a strange kind of happiness coursing through him despite his annoyance. It's bright outside, yet not enough to dispel the strangely frigid chill around them. His car gleams in the sunlight. The car hood is scratchless and perfect, just like it was on the day Mike first laid his eyes upon it.
He loves his car.
“I love your family,” Will grins at him cheekily as Mike reverses his car out of the driveway.
“I will literally never live all that down.”
“It wasn’t so bad!”
“It wasn’t so bad listening to my mom go on and on about how cute we looked when we fell asleep on the couch together!?”
“We probably did look adorable, come on,”
“That’s besides the point!”
Their banter continues for a while and it seems like today is going to be another good day. Mike smiles at Will while the other boy isn’t looking, busy fastening his seatbelt, and wonders how he got so lucky.
XXX
Mike swears he can hear a clock ticking, in tune to the beat of his heart, making his eardrums pulse. He wonders if it’s just his subconscious mind taunting him because he is very, very late to school.
And it’s all Will’s fault.
Coercing him to the backseat of the car before they could enter the school building. Batting his eyelashes at him innocently like butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth.
Mike pulls his lips away from Will’s with a loud, rough breath, trying not to get overwhelmed by the sight of the other boy sitting in his lap, lips red and swollen and big, innocent eyes glazed over with lust.
“Mike,” Will says breathily, trying to chase his lips, but Mike turns his head away, breathing heavily and frowning as he looks out the car window.
“We are so late,” He mutters worriedly, but Will doesn’t seem to hear him, dragging his saliva-slick lips down his neck, pressing soft kisses to the flesh there.
“Mmmm…no…We’re okay, come back please,” Will’s voice is filled with want, so much desire, that Mike can feel the tips of his ears start to burn. How long had he dreamed of this? Dreamed of Will loving him back with the same intensity Mike has always had for him all his life?
He turns back to face him and Will quickly kisses him again, deepening it immediately. They’ve been making out for the past twenty minutes and Mike doesn’t understand how he still needs twenty, no forty, more to feel even remotely satisfied. Will is irresistible.
But they’re getting late to class.
Mike pulls away again, kissing his boyfriend’s forehead and placing a hand on his cheek. Will melts into it, looking adoring and eager.
“We can continue this after school,” Mike promises. "But we need to get to class right now,"
“Promise?”
Mike laughs incredulously, “‘Course,”
“I love you,” Will says and Mike has to physically hold himself back from kissing him again, this time for an indeterminable amount of time. “I love you so much,”
“I love you, too” Mike kisses his forehead again. “I’m…I’m so lucky to have you, Will. You have no idea. I love you.”
They struggle out of the backseat and by the time Mike’s rushing to class, the bell has been ringing for thirty seconds and he knows he’ll be just barely in time again.
XXX
“How’s the milkshake?” Mike asks, as he makes his way steadily through his burger and fries meal, his staple diet whenever he and his friends visit the local diner.
Will sips at it experimentally, and Mike knows just from the way his eyes light up that it’s good. Mike feels almost creepy sometimes in his ardent perusals of his boyfriend. It’s like he can't stop watching him.
“It’s great,” Will says, reaching for his grilled cheese sandwich.
They’re basically on a date, having driven out for lunch after their classes. Despite Hawkins being a small, conservative town, Mike doesn't think anyone suspects that they’re lovers, and not just friends. He wonders if he sometimes gives it away, by the way he can’t keep his eyes off the other boy, but no one has bothered them yet.
In fact, they seem to like them. The waitress always smiles brightly whenever she sees them, knowing their usual orders by heart.
Will’s hand flounders around his plate, searching aimlessly for a spare fry. It seems he’s finished all of them, and Mike doesn't even hesitate to hand him his own. “Here,” he says earnestly, sliding his plate over across the table, “You can have mine,”
Will takes a few, but Mike shakes his head, “You can have way more than that,”
“I’m good,” Will smiles. His eyes flash mischievously. “Want to try my milkshake?”
He gestures to the tall glass, and twists the head of the straw to face Mike. The straw he just used.
Mike smiles and nods, and as Will slides the glass towards him, he closes his eyes and takes a refreshing sip of the cold, sweet liquid.
His heart is fluttering. They’re so corny, getting all flustered over indirect kisses and sharing straws or food, when they’ve made out plenty of times. But there’s something sticky-sweet and lovely about these moments and Mike can’t get enough of them.
“You were right, this is good,”
“I know,” Will says, sliding the glass back towards himself and taking a sip himself.
By the time they're done eating, talking about everything from their day at high school to what they’re planning to get Lucas on his birthday to whether they should have another sleepover, Mike is in high spirits. That is, until the topic turns to the weather.
“Hey, is it me or is it freezing lately?” Mike asks casually, signalling to the waitress to bring them their the bill.
Will cocks his head, confused, “I feel fine,”
“Um, I don’t know, It just…Feels like it’s been colder than usual?”
Something odd flickers on Will’s face, “What do you mean?”
Mike’s a bit apprehensive. “I don’t know, it’s just cold, you know? I’m always bundled up in these hoodies these days but you never seem to mind the weather. Maybe you have a better tolerance to the cold?” He asks lightly, not wanting to think back to Will’s Mind Flayer days.
“Maybe,” Will says quietly, and Mike feels the mood shift a little. He pays the bill and tips the waitress, and then they walk outside back to his car.
“Hey, Mike?” Will says, standing next to the car door but not opening it.
“Yeah?”
Will smiles at him a little vacantly, making a strange shiver run down Mike’s spine. He seems…empty. It’s weird.
“You’re happy, right?”
Mike’s heart lurches a little in surprise. Where did that come from?
“What? Uh, yeah. Yeah I am.” Did he mean happy in their relationship? “Of course I’m happy with you.”
Will smiles sweetly and starts to get inside the car. Mike follows, and pushes his key into the ignition.
“I’m happy with you, too,” Will says, like it's an afterthought, once they drive away.
XXX
They head back to Mike’s house and spend the remainder of the day finishing their homework and filling out college applications.
“I’m thinking…California,” Mike says, grinning at Will. “Just think about it. Long summers. Awesome beaches. Open minded cities.”
“Have you decided what you’re going to major in yet?”
“I mean…I’m still struggling to pick between English and Film… And mom and dad still want me to pick something else, like business or engineering. Or go into law like Lucas.”
“And I still think you should go into Journalism,”
“What, like Nancy?” Mike scoffs.
“She’s basically famous.”
“No she isn’t!” Mike laughs. “Just because she published the one article—”
“You’re a great writer! And super smart. You’d be a great journalist,” Will insists.
“Yeah but…I’ve always wanted to go into Film, you know? There’s this really cool Film and Writing program in this Californian college…”
“I can see you being a great script writer,”
“You really think so?” Mike looks eager.
“Yeah, for sure. And wherever you're going, I’m coming with you. I’ll just take their Fine Arts program and come join you. We can work on our comic together, like we planned to,”
“Roommates?” Mike holds his breath, unable to stop smiling like a loon.
“Roommates,” Will agrees with a soft smile.
“I love you,” Mike pulls Will into a bone-crushing hug. “I can't wait for us to go to college together,”
“I love you, too,” Will kisses his cheek. “We’re both totally getting in, I can feel it.”
“When are decisions again?” Mike asks, gently massaging Will’s shoulders as Will leans against him, seeking out his warmth.
“Ummm…” Will thinks. “Next year, I guess. March, probably,”
“Cool. That’s in, like…” Mike suddenly trails off, confused. How long was it until March again?
Three months? Four months? Six months? What month was it, anyways?
“What month is it again?” Mike says without thinking, before suddenly feeling very uneasy. Why didn't he know that already? He was literally going to school every day, it wasn't exactly hard to miss the giant calendars in the classrooms or the date scribbled on the chalkboards. What was wrong with him?
“October,” Will says, calmly. “That means we have about five to six months to go.”
“Right. Of course. Sorry I’ve just been so distracted lately—”
“Hey, hey, it’s okay,” Will laughs gently. “Don't sweat it.”
“I mean, heck, I’m surprised I haven't flunked out of school yet. Are you ready for midterms?”
“Sure, I’ve started studying a little.”
“I haven't even gotten started on that,” Mike laughs self-deprecatingly. Then he pauses again. He doesn't even remember half of what he’s learnt this semester. Was he really that busy with Will?
I mean I guess we learnt more algebra…and…learnt about magnets? Or was it hydraulics?
It’s weird. Mike feels like his usually sharp memory is failing him. Big time. He better hit the books.
“Hey, don't we have that thing with the party in an hour? You know, at that burger shack you love so much?” Will breaks him out of his reverie.
Sometimes, the whole party shows up to Mike’s house in the evenings, usually on the weekends. They play board games and plan campaigns and watch movies and argue over Mike’s Nintendo. Other times, they go out to eat and do their homework together.
“Oh yeah! Thanks for reminding me. We better get ready then,”
“Let’s go,”
Today the party has chosen the small burger shack next to the school building. Mike and Will both arrive together and along with Dustin, Lucas, Max, and El, choose a comfy window booth overlooking a vacant parking lot with flickering streetlights. It doesn't take long for them to start detailed discussions about college decisions over plates of greasy food.
But Mike can barely concentrate. He and Will are holding hands underneath the table and Mike wants to kick his feet in giddiness. Will’s rubbing his thumb over the flesh of his palm and Mike can’t help but grin stupidly, even when their friends aim the two of them with less than impressed stares.
“Mike,” Max says, wholly done with him. “Please take that look off your face,”
“What look?” Mike splutters.
“That ridiculous one.”
“Hey!—”
“Max is right,” El says, raising an eyebrow. “We get it. You’re dating.”
Will flushes and Mike immediately rushes to defend them, “We aren't doing anything,”
“Suuuree,” Dustin says, rolling his eyes very exaggeratedly, in Mike’s opinion. “You two were literally feeding each other french fries when you thought no one was looking,”
“Yeah, well, Will was hungry,” Mike says defensively. He turns to his boyfriend, his voice soft, “Right, Will?”
“Right,” Will laughs nervously.
“And let’s not forget you staring at him throughout the meal,” Lucas supplies helpfully. “Like some kind of creep. And you call me the stalker, Max,”
“Guys,” Will says, trying to hold in his laughter. “Come on, leave him alone. Mike’s just being sweet,”
“To you, maybe,” Lucas raises an eyebrow. “He’s a jerk to the rest of us,”
“That's not true!” Mike protests as the table bursts into laughter.
“Yeah, Mike’s always had a soft spot for Will. He wouldn't so much as let us look at his fries but gave Will his whole plate without him asking!” Dustin really can’t let the whole fries thing go, can he?
“Maybe you all should try being more like Will, then,” Mike shoots back, slinging his arm around his boyfriend. Will looks up at him, blushing furiously. “Ever think about that?”
“Will, give us the word and we’ll beat him up,” Max says earnestly. “I do not know how you tolerate him day in and day out.”
The table’s still laughing loudly, and Mike scowls at all of them. Will joins their hands together again, and squeezes his fingers.
“Hey,” He says softly. “If it helps, I’d tolerate you till the end of time,”
“Yeah?” Mike asks him breathlessly.
“Yeah,” Will replies equally breathlessly.
They’re lost in each other’s eyes for a moment, until their friends start to groan loudly again. Max makes puking noises and Lucas and Dustin mutter out ooohs. But Mike can’t even bring himself to care. He already has all he needs.
XXX
Well, at least that’s what he thinks.
Most of the time.
A few other times — just a few, Mike always rushes to reassure himself — something just feels…a bit off.
Will’s always been sensitive, ever since they were kids. He’s always struggled to speak up for himself, always been soft-spoken and shy. It’s why Mike’s still so protective of him. He thought it was just an instinct at first, a desire to defend his best friend. It didn't take long for Mike to realise that it was a lot more than that. When Will grew up from a cute, doe-eyed kid to a tall, attractive, broad-shouldered older teenager, Mike started to realise that no, he wasn’t just protective; he was head over heels in love with his best friend.
Will was pretty, there was no denying that. He had the cutest teeth and the prettiest doe eyes. His slightly grown out, chestnut hair complimented his pretty, hazel green eyes. He was also strong and reliable and a lot more athletic than Mike, helping him with the chores his dad forced upon him with relative ease. Mike loved the smoothness of his voice, the blockiness of his hands, the scratch of his stubble, the sharpness of his jaw, and it was so different from being with a girl, even if Will’s eyelashes were impossibly long and even if Mike had an almost violent urge to protect him sometimes, when he saw even the slightest bit of upset in his eyes. But despite all of this, despite Will being soft and sweet and angelic, Mike knew that Will wasn't a doormat. He was quick to argue with his friends when they were wrong, and very snarky sometimes, his sarcasm rivalling even Mike’s when he was in a mood.
Hence, Mike doesn't know what to do with…this.
They don’t argue. Or at least, Mike tries to instigate an argument, but Will immediately apologises, looking so stricken that Mike feels taken aback.
Mike tries, sometimes, to piss him off; he calls his idea for a campaign stupid or makes jabs at his favourite comic. But Will is aways docile, agreeing easily, never saying a word.
And it’s weird. Really weird.
Will doesn't mind spending every day of the week at his house, despite his mom probably worrying about him. Will doesn't mind if Mike’s an idiot or insensitive or unpleasant to be around. He doesn't even mind if Mike insults his favourite songs or bothers him while painting.
All Mike can get out of him is a permanent soft smile, almost tattooed to his face. Like one of Holly’s Barbie dolls with their rigidly upturned cupid-bows. And one day it gets to Mike.
“It’s like you’re made of fucking plastic!” He yells, deep in the throes of an argument, his temper hot and surging. “Say something!”
“What do you want me to say?” Will is quiet, staring at him carefully. “Am I…Am I not saying the right things?”
“What…what do you mean? Will, this is ridiculous. It’s like you can't even think for yourself! You know, I wanted a boyfriend, not a slave!”
Will’s eyes flash with hurt, “I’m sorry, Mike,”
“Don’t…” Mike wipes a hand over his face. “Don’t say you’re fucking sorry.”
“But I am.”
“Why?"
Will shrugs. “I upset you. I’m not… It’s the last thing I want to do,” He says earnestly. “Please tell me how I can make this better.”
“Show some damn emotion!” Mike snaps.
“Mike, I… I don’t like it when you yell,” Will’s lips are trembling and Mike suddenly catches his breath.
There’s an awkward pause and then Mike speaks, his voice strained and frantic, “Fuck, I’m sorry…I shouldn’t have…You just weren’t …I don’t know…you were just…” What does he even want to say?
“No, no, I get it,” Will says immediately, to nobody’s surprise. “It’s not your fault,”
Mike feels a little thrum of anger again, “Yeah? So it’s yours?”
“I mean, yeah. I guess. I’m sorry.”
“Will, come on!” Mike throws up his arms in frustration.
“Look, you’re clearly mad right now. Why don’t you take some space and clear your head?”
Mike huffs and shakes his head, falling silent. He doesn't know how to get through to him and longs for Will to argue back.
A few moments pass, silent and tense, and then a few more. Eventually, Will breaks the silence and whines, clearly upset, “Please, Mike,”
“What, Will?”
“Talk to me.”
“Why should I? It’s like talking to a brick wall. It’s not like you have your own thoughts or anything.” The second he says it, something begins to churn in his belly. Mike has a weird sense of dread that feels out of place, but he quickly shakes the feeling away.
“So you want me to…argue?” Will asks tentatively. “Will that make you happy?” He pauses and then folds his arms across his chest, his face instantly warping into a look of disdain, so quickly that Mike has to blink.
“You’re being ridiculous, Mike,” Will says, his tone now completely different.
Mike stares at him. What is this? Pretend anger or genuine irritation? Either way, it’s weird and abrupt and makes the weird feeling in his belly come back full force.
“If you want to be a dick, fine by me. I’m heading back home. I don't want to talk to you. It’s clear you’re not interested in anything I have to say.”
It’s a bit of deja vú, but before Mike can process it, Will is storming off.
“Hey, wait!” Mike calls out. “Will!”
Will doesn't stop, and he opens the bedroom door, slamming it behind him. Mike scrambles after him, trying to get a hold of him.
“Will, what the hell? Come on, don’t just leave!”
“Why not?” Will demands. “You’re being a stubborn jerk and I’m tired of it.”
Mike stares. It’s such a weird personality switch that it’s like whiplash.
"But—"
"But nothing," Will sliced through him coldly. "Don't talk to me. I'm sick of this, I'm sick of your constant outbursts. Do you even care how they make me feel?"
“I just wanted you to…stop agreeing with everything I said.”
“That’s what I’m doing. This is what you wanted.”
“Yeah, but…” Mike feels lost. “Do you mean it?”
“Uh, yeah?” Will says, raising an eyebrow.
“So, you…” Mike can't follow this conversation anymore. He's suddenly exhausted. “You know what, whatever. I need to clear my head. This is weird. You’re being weird. Goodnight.”
He trails back to his room without waiting for a reply.
XXX
Mike goes to sleep that night upset and lonely, craving his boyfriend’s warmth. He misses holding him, pressing his forehead against his and sharing stories, stealing kisses, discussing various topics in whispered murmurs, pausing only to kiss Will hard in the middle of a sentence. Mike misses Will sorely and he can’t help it. Even if he’s still angry at him. An aching loneliness settles in his belly, and he turns around in his bed to get more comfortable.
Only to face Will.
Mike sits up so fast his head spins. What the fuck? What the fuck?
Will is lying there sleepily, his eyes droopy, and a teasing smile on his face, “Hey. What’s wrong?”
“What…what are you doing here? When did you…What?”
Will looks confused, “We always sleep together,”
“You went home! Will, how did you — what the hell is going on?”
“Mike, you’re confused,” Will’s voice is a gentle, lulling murmur. “We’re always together. I’m never going to leave you. You’re never going to sleep alone. I promised you, didn’t I?”
“I…” Mike can’t think straight. A fog is settling over his mind, and he can’t help but think that Will’s right. There’s nothing wrong with him being here. It’s normal actually, comforting. Everything is fine.
What was he so mad about?
And what had he been thinking about again?
He can hear a loud ticking in his ears and he shivers, feeling a chill again. He must have forgotten to close his window.
Will pulls him down towards his chest, and Mike lets him. He lets Will do anything.
XXX
“Hey Mike!”
Mike lifts his head in confusion. He could have sworn he was in bed just a moment ago, wrapped in Will’s arms. Now he was standing in the middle of a school hallway, in the midst of passing students, as another fellow senior grinned at him.
“Hi…?” Did Mike know who this was?
“I’m holding a party at my place this weekend. It’d be cool if you could make it,”
It’s actually nothing surprising. Mike has been getting loads of party invites and attention lately, ever since he started his senior year. Whereas before he was either invisible or the target of vicious bullying, it seemed now people couldn't get enough of him. His schedule was jampacked with party invites and he couldn't go anywhere without people greeting him and asking him how he was.
It’s all he had ever wanted, actually, deep inside — despite telling Lucas that he didn't care about popularity.
But wasn’t I at home just now?
“Mike?” The boy prompts again.
“What? Oh, yeah, sure. Sure. I’ll be there, yeah,” Mike says quickly, nodding at him and quickly walking off after bidding him farewell.
He feels pretty disoriented and unsettled. He doesn't even remember what class he’s supposed to go to or where the classroom even is. As he ruminates on it, he is suddenly accosted by Dustin and Lucas, both appearing out of seemingly nowhere.
“Hey, maths is this way,” Lucas says, pointing to a classroom Mike had just passed by. “Come on, or you’re gonna be late,”
Right. Maths. How could he have forgotten?
Silly him.
Everything was fine. Just fine.
XXX
And then he’s at a party.
Mike looks around himself in complete confusion. How did he get here? He was just at school a moment ago!
He doesn't even get the chance to think about it before Will is grabbing onto his arm and leading him excitedly up the stairs.
“Quickly!” Will says, uncharacteristically upbeat.
Mike is led through throngs of dancing, sweaty teenagers holding cups of beer and talking so loudly his head hurts. It’s freezing for some reason, and he can feel what he thinks is the beat of music thrumming in his ears. A rhythmic beat, like the ticking of a clock, pulsing in his ears and never-ending.
Will gently pushes Mike inside an empty bedroom and locks the door behind them. He has on a very sultry look, his eyes deep-lidded and a coy smirk on his face.
“I couldn't wait to get you alone. I waited all night,”
“Yeah?” Mike doesn't even remember arriving here, let alone what happened “all night”.
Will looks, quite frankly, amazing. His top two shirt buttons are open, displaying his toned, flushed chest and his eyes glint green as they catch the light. He looks beautiful, his brown hair tousled —probably from all the dancing — and his cheeks red with arousal and...intoxication, maybe?
Mike feels a stirring in his stomach and he doesn't waste any time in pinning Will to the door, suddenly kissing him passionately. In all this confusion, at least he has Will — something reliable, an anchor. The love of his life.
“You…look…so good,” Mike murmurs, punctuating each word with a kiss, as he grabs onto Will’s trim waist and kisses him senseless.
Will whimpers in his mouth, pliant and willing, and then cranes his neck to the side, giving Mike full access to it. Mike sucks bruises into it possessively, determined to mark Will up so that everybody at the party knows who he belongs to.
Will grabs Mike’s head and pulls it up towards his mouth again, kissing him feverishly. His eyes glint mischievously as he slowly licks into Mike’s mouth.
It’s all of Mike’s fantasies come to life.
Mike grabs Will by the collar and drags him over to the bed in the middle of the room, pushing him onto the mattress and pinning him there with his body as they kiss open-mouthed. Will moans into his mouth. Mike is aware things are getting seriously heated up and it’s all he can focus on right now — the warmth of Will’s skin, his voice, his reactions. Mike shoves the smaller boy’s T-shirt up over his stomach and kisses at the exposed skin. Will lets out a groan that makes Mike’s knees go weak.
He’d let me do anything, Mike thinks feverishly. Will trusts him so much. He always seems to know what would make Mike happiest.
Mike leaves about a dozen more sloppy kisses down Will’s neck, drinking in his sounds of pleasure, his head getting more and more fuzzy. He wants to…he wants to…What doesn’t he want to do? He licks his lips. He can probably do anything. And Will won't mind, won't argue, won't even flinch. Just blush that pretty pink blush and beg him. And Mike loves it. Mike loves…
There’s that feeling again. The one of confusion. Of something being amiss. Again.
Mike raises his hand experimentally and suddenly scratches Will a little too hard on his arm.
Will gasps, a soft ow escaping his lips. But then he smiles again, looking up at Mike expectantly.
“Did that… hurt?” Mike asks cautiously.
“A little. But I’m okay,”
“Well then, what do you want me to do next?”
“Everything you do feels good, Mike,” Will says automatically.
Mike flushes red. “What? Will, what do you want to do?”
“Whatever you want to do,”
There it is again. What the heck? The absurd level of subservience.
“I want to do whatever you want to do,” Mike says stubbornly.
“Okay,” Will says mischievously. “I want to do what you’ve been thinking about for months now,”
Mike blinks in pure confusion. “What?”
“What you’ve been thinking about, for a while,” Will repeats with a cheeky smile. “You know what I’m talking about. If you’re ready, we can—”
“How do you know what I’ve been thinking about?”
“I know everything about you, Mike,”
“Yeah, but…what? You know what I’ve been fantasising about?”
“Of course. The two of us, finally taking the next step in our relationship. A dark night with stars in the sky, and the bedside lamp turned on so you can see me,” Will starts saying mechanically, almost as if he’s reading off a paper. “I’m lying in your bed and we’re both wearing nothing and you’re on top of me and you’re—”
“Fuck, Will, shut up!” Mike is blister red and also horrified. Word for word, the exact same image in his mind — the one he’s been embarrassed about for ages. How does Will know? Down to the stupid fucking lamp being part of it?
Mike needs some space. This is too weird.
He makes to move off the bed, when Will’s hand wraps around his wrist.
“Don’t go,” Will says innocently. “I can make you happy. I promise.”
“Will, let me go,”
“Please don’t go, Mike,”
“Let me go!” Mike can’t shake the feeling that something is terribly, terribly wrong. The walls are suddenly twisting and turning around him, the colours of the paintings morphing and the furniture in the room melting and becoming formless heaps on the floor. Mike gasps loudly, looking around the room frantically. It’s like his life is dissolving around him, like sand in water, and he screams out in horror.
“It’s okay, Mike,” Will is still gripping his wrist. He looks determined, his voice devoid of any real emotion. “It’s okay. It’s okay. It’s—”
“—okay. It’s okay, Mike…” Someone is saying softly, next to him. Mike jumps and turns around wildly, turning to face the voice. It’s different from Will’s, soft and feminine and exceedingly familiar.
“El?”
The room’s changed. El of all people is standing in front of him, both of them in the middle of nowhere. It’s just pure darkness all around. El looks tired and exhausted, but there is relief shining in her eyes.
“Mike!” She says breathlessly. “Finally, finally it worked!”
“What worked? What the hell’s going on?”
“Okay, Mike, look, you need to listen to me. I’ve been trying to reach out to you for a while and lately, I think it’s been working. There have probably been… disturbances in your dream?”
“My dream…?” What was she on about?
You might think this sounds weird but…you’re not actually anywhere right now. This…this place isn't real,” El speaks with urgency. “This world…it’s not real. It’s…a dream. A…a fantasy.”
“What are you talking about, El? You’re making no sense! Where are we?”
“I don't know how much longer I have before… before you’re sucked back in,” Tears are shining in her eyes. “But none of this is real, Mike. He…” She swallows loudly. “He’s not real.”
“Who?” Mike has never been so confused in his life.
“Will,” El says, and before she can continue, she suddenly looks around her: the room they’re in seems to be collapsing in on itself. She starts screaming, “Mike! Just try to wake up, okay? Remember what I said, it’s a dream! It’s a dream! We miss you, Mike! We all really miss—”
And then the scene changes.
Mike wakes up, next to Will. The early morning sunlight is streaming through the window and Will is cuddled into his side, soft and warm and comfortable.
But Mike has a faint recollection of what just happened.
He’s not real.
Who?
Will.
“Morning,” Will breathes when Mike stares at him in horror. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
Mike tries to speak, but another hazy warmth settles over his mind as Will pulls him into a kiss and Mike just can't find it in him to resist. He wants to ask Will why he wouldn't be real, he wants to push him away and run out of his room and keep running till his legs give out. He wants to scream and cry because he has no idea what’s going on. But Will’s lips are warm, and his touch is warmer, and Mike's been so cold lately, so Mike just closes his eyes and leans into it, even as the pleasure mixes with dread and fear.
XXX
The next time he wakes up, Mike jolts up in bed, panicked and afraid. When he turns his head, he sees that Will is still sleeping next to him. Will is always next to him.
Without thinking , he nudges Will awake, desperately wanting answers. Will yawns cutely, never failing to play it up, to stretch luxuriously in the sheets before opening up his eyes and fixing Mike with a lazy smile.
“Hmm?” The brunette murmurs. “What’s up?”
“Can you sit up, please?”
Will obeys, and suddenly inches towards him, a sleepy but smug smile gracing his lips. “What’s with that look? C’mere…” He kisses Mike’s neck and Mike has to forcibly shake himself out of it.
“Will, not now. I need you to listen to me.”
“Okay…” Will moves back. He looks confused. “I’m listening.”
“Are you…” Mike swallows. How does one even go about something like this? “Are you real?”
It sounds ridiculous and strange even to his own ears and Will blinks in confusion.
“Um… yes?”
“You’re real?”
“Yeah?”
“You’re… you’re the real Will Byers?” Mike can’t help but ask for a third time.
“What is this, Mike?” Will folds his arms across his chest. “This is weird.”
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I just…I had a weird dream.”
“What was it about?”
“Nothing, forget it,” Mike shakes his head. “I’m sorry, baby. I shouldn’t have…”
“Hey, hey, it’s okay,” Will says, wrapping his arms around him. “You look really stressed. I think we should talk about it. If you’re okay with sharing it with me,”
“It’s nothing, trust me,” Mike lies, the guilt making his stomach twist. But maybe it is nothing. “Come here,” He says after a moment’s pause, pulling Will close. He kisses him passionately, desperately, unable to fathom the thought that the boy he’s loved for years isn’t real.
He’s so desperate for that to not be true, actually, that he suddenly pushes Will onto his back on the bed, a sudden surge of possessiveness rising inside his chest.
Will looks up at him in surprise but there’s clear interest in his eyes and Mike’s stomach swoops pleasantly.
Mike kisses him again, harshly, biting his bottom lip. Will moans softly into his mouth. Mike’s hands scramble for the other boy’s t-shirt, pulling it over his head and then throwing it onto the floor. He kisses and nibbles at the pale flesh greedily, not relenting in the least even when he feels Will trembling underneath him.
“Mike…” Will murmurs, only encouraging him.
“Tell me you love me,” Mike says roughly, his voice needy and insecure. He needs this. He really needs this reassurance because right now, despite the pleasure, Mike feels like his world is falling apart.
“I— ah — I love you,” Will gasps, and Mike smiles against his skin.
Mike moves back over to Will’s face and kisses him fervently.
“Please just...just kiss me,” He begs, not even caring how pathetic he sounds. “That’s all I want. Just kiss me, Will,”
And once again, Will obeys.
XXX
Mike's watching 21 Jump Street on the T.V. as he lounges on his living room sofa. It's funny and action-packed as it's always been, but Mike feels numb. He can't shake off the unsettling feeling of dread that has taken over him since a few days ago.
Next to him, Will sits on the sofa and stares at the T.V. screen with glassy eyes, his cheek resting in his hand and his back slightly hunched as he leans forward. Mike's eyes roam over his long legs, the mole above his upper lip.
"I thought you hated this show," Mike says casually, a bit too casually. He's vaguely curious how someone apparently "not real" can watch television in the first place.
"What? No, I love it. How can I hate something you like?" Will says, sounding surprised.
Of course. Why had Mike expected anything different?
"...Are you following along?" Mike asks, changing the subject.
"Of course," Will says sweetly. "Hey, do you want me to get you a drink from the fridge?"
"No! I mean, stay. Please. I want you to stay with me," Mike flushes in embarrassment, but right now he can't stand the thought of being alone for even two minutes.
"Always," Will says, just the right amount of passionate. He looks pleased, as if Mike had said the right thing too. "Of course I'll stay with you." He leans closer to Mike and rests his head on his shoulder, snuggling closer as they both stare at the television screen in front of them. After a few moments, Will turns his head to face Mike, a mischievous smile on his face.
"Hey, Officer Tom's kinda hot, isn't he?"
Mike feels his heart skip a beat at the cheeky, teasing grin on Will's face. Smirking, he says, "Hmm? Finding other men hot when you have me, huh?"
"Mmhmm. What'll you do about it?"
"Punish you," Mike laughs, tackling Will to the sofa as he pushes him onto his back and straddles him. "I hereby sentence you to death by a thousand love bites!"
Will squeals, squirms, struggles under him as Mike gets to work, laughing just as much. And even though Mike is deeply, deeply in love and doesn't wish to be anywhere or with anyone but Will at this moment, the sense of dread and unease still lingers over him, still settles deep into his chest.
Their laughs and sounds of skirmish echo in the living room as the television continues to play in the background.
XXX
Despite his best efforts to move on, over the course of the next few days, Mike’s usually happy disposition has soured considerably.
His parents dote on him, even his dad, and ask him if he’s okay, but he doesn't know what to say.
What could he say? That El came up to him and told him nothing he knew was real?
When Mike visited El again and asked her what that had all been about, she looked at him like he was crazy.
“Mike, are you okay?” El looked genuinely concerned.
“Yeah, yeah,” Mike shrugged off her worry. “Just a bit…distracted, lately,”
“Maybe you just had a really crazy dream?”
“Probably,” Mike said, wrapping his arms around himself. “El, I think I’m going crazy.”
“Hey, you’re just stressed about college decisions and stuff. It’s okay. It’s normal.”
“No, it’s not that. I just…Will’s just been acting really weird lately. Have you noticed?”
El looks very startled, “He has? He’s not…making you happy?”
“He is, he is, it’s just…! He doesn't get mad at me and he knows weird private stuff about me that I haven't told anyone and he’s kind of everywhere I go and…”
“Mike, he’s probably just trying to make you happy.”
“What?”
“Look, don’t tell Will I told you this but…” El looks all around her, as if scared Will would pop up out of nowhere. “He’s really scared to lose you. He doesn't think he’s good enough for you and is always worried you’ll leave him for someone else. You know how much he overthinks…”
“I’d never do that. I love him,” Mike protests.
“I know that, but Will’s insecure. He won't stop worrying about it. So if he’s avoiding arguments or…or being extra clingy lately, it's probably just because he wants to be good enough for you. He just wants you to love him.”
“I do, El. I don't need him to do all that!”
“Well, at least now you know why he’s been acting all weird, yeah?”
It makes some sense. It still hasn't answered the question as to how Will knows about his deepest, darkest fantasies, but maybe it's just intuition? Will has always read him like a book.
That doesn't make too much sense but Mike’s suddenly tired and he’s starting to forget why he even came to El in the first place. He’s starting to wonder why he was ever so worked up at all.
Eventually, he says goodbye to El and heads out of her room, heading outside again. A walk should clear his head.
He walks and walks for what seems like miles, his legs never tiring, when he suddenly feels a searing headache and shuts his eyes.
Where was he supposed to go again?
Mike suddenly takes another step before stumbling back in horror. When he opens his eyes he can't help but scream.
The pathway in front of him has disappeared. In fact, its almost like the world in front of him has disappeared. He’s standing on the edge of what he thought was Maple Street, lined with houses and trees, but there is no continuation to it. Just…darkness. Like he’s staring into the void.
Mike steps backwards, his feet hitting solid ground. He blinks and suddenly rows of houses appear, filling up the darkness, the street in front of him suddenly materialising again.
It’s like it had been there all along.
Mike is hyperventilating now, looking around in panic.
What the fuck is going on, what the fuck is going on, what the fuck is going on—
And then he sees her again, tired and exhausted, weirdly translucent, her brown eyes filled with relief once more upon seeing him.
“Mike!” El exclaims, reaching forward to grasp his hands.
Mike flinches back violently, utterly confused. El doesn't seem to mind as she opens her mouth and begins to speak frantically, “I’ve finally found you again! I didn't think I’d be able to. Your brain is… really complicated.”
“I…What?”
“Mike, you didn't listen to me last time. I told you, you’ve got to wake up. This place isn't real.”
Suddenly things make more sense. “Yeah, I…I think I may be dreaming. I’m seeing things, El, and—”
“There’s something you need to know. The most dangerous person in this world…is Will.” El says solemnly, interrupting him swiftly. “Mike, you need to listen to me carefully. You’re asleep. The people you see here are…not real. All of them are...like memories. You know how you see people in your dreams? But it's your brain that made them up? It's kind of like that. They're like dreams or memories. They're kind of made from your own energy, at least that's what it looks like, because you get weaker the more you talk to them or...love them. So some of them are sucking the very soul out of you, and making you...weak. Making it harder for you to fight back. The ones you care about the most in real life are actually…the ones taking the most advantage of you here,”
“El, trust me, I am not following any of this.”
“Look, just…Be careful around Will, okay? He’s the one you spend most of your time here with, right?”
“Here, being…?”
“This world, Mike! This dream!”
“I don't get it. I’m always with Will. It’s not a dream. Some weird things have been happening, sure, but El — you —reckoned it was just stress. I mean, I’m about to make a pretty major decision about my life, you know? And yeah, maybe I’m having these…weird dreams now and then —”
“Mike, I don’t have much time! One — Vecna's — going to eventually find out that I’m here and I’m going to be pushed out again…And the defenses of your mind will grow stronger until…until you won’t be able to distinguish things anymore. You’ll be stuck here. Me trying to wake you up has been making weird things happen, making you question if things are real, but I won't be able to do it for long,”
“...Vecna?” Mike's stuck on that name.
“Yes, Mike. Do you…remember Max’s coma?”
“Yeah? She woke up from it months ago.”
El lets out a choked sob. “No. She’s still asleep, Mike. And so are you.”
Mike suddenly feels like he’s been hit by a ton of bricks. His hands start trembling and he clenches them hard, feeling his nails dig into his skin. He can't help but gasp out, in a strangled voice, “What?”
“I’m sorry,” El sniffles. “I know this is a lot. Look, I’m going to get you out of here. I promise. I just need…more time. I’ll get my energy back and try again. Until then, promise me one thing — you’ll stay away from Will. He’s not real, Mike. He’s not real."
And with that, she fades away, like she never was, leaving Mike absolutely gobsmacked in the middle of the street, bewildered out of his mind.
XXX
Mike doesn't know how long it takes for him to get home but he stops by the grocery store on his way back.
He’s completely numb.
He can't get El’s words out of his head but he does feel like his memory of the event is starting to…fade.
When he looks up he sees the cashier watching him with a bored expression. “Can I help you?”
“Just these, thanks,” Mike shoves the chocolate milk and bagel across the counter.
As the cashier processes his purchase, he looks around the supermarket warily. It’s…eerily quiet. Like a ghost town.
Mike shivers and picks up his bagel, and then absentmindedly bites into it. He chews and chews, but it doesn't really taste of anything and when he looks down at it, it appears completely uneaten. Still brand new like he never bit into it.
Now completely freaked out, Mike rushes out of the store, ignoring the cashier’s calls of “Hey! You forgot your milk!”
He wants his room and the relative safety of it. He wants his mom.
He finally reaches his house and knocks desperately on the door, almost yelling now, “Mom? Mom!”
The door swings open and Mike almost expects to see his mom, with her frizzy blonde hair and gentle eyes. But instead it’s…Will. Smiling softly as usual, and looking faintly concerned.
“Mike? What’s wrong?”
“What’re you doing here?” Mike demands, out of breath.
“Oh, I just came by to see if you were available to go to the arcade later today. Your mom let me stay over until you arrived. That’s…okay, right?”
“Yeah…” Mike watches him warily.
Stay away from Will. He’s not real.
Mike feels tears pool in his eyes as the frustration of the past few days starts to weigh on him. He blinks them away, not flinching when Will is suddenly next to him, cooing at him in concern.
“Baby, what’s wrong? Mike? Are you…crying? ” Will sounds terrified, and Mike buries his head in his shoulder, stifling his sobs. He just wants to feel safe.
Will leads Mike up to his room as gently as he can, laying them both down on the bed as Mike hiccups into his chest, desperate for consolation.
He’s not real. He’s not real. He’s not real.
Will gently nudges Mike’s face upwards so that their eyes meet. He kisses his cheek, and then says in a very quiet voice, “Tell me what’s wrong, love.”
“Nothing, I…I just…Will, I love you…”
“That’s what’s wrong?” Will asks, a little amused. He smiles, “I love you too, Mike. I always have. Ever since I met you. I’ve only got eyes for you. You always take care of me, you always protect me. I’d do anything for you and seeing you sad makes me wanna cry too.”
The words are like a soothing balm and Mike smiles back at him weakly. They’re almost in their own little world again, a cocoon shielding them from the cold, ugly world. Mike wants so badly to melt into the warmth Will is providing.
But he can’t get El’s words out of his head.
Be careful around Will, okay?
He’s not real.
You’ll be stuck here.
Mike cradles Will’s face gently, watching as the brunette closes his hazel eyes and leans into the touch, looking at peace. His cheek is soft and warm and he starts to hum lightly under his breath.
He’s not real, Mike thinks again, and such a painful sadness grips him at the realisation that he’s surprised he’s still breathing. This is all an illusion. Everything has been from the start.
His parents, Holly, Nancy, his friends, the car. Will. None of this has been real and the reason Will has been so receptive to everything Mike’s wanted is because …
He’s not real.
He’s just a sick, twisted manifestation of Mike’s desires. Mike’s sick, sick desires. And this fake Will thinks that obeying Mike’s every whim will make Mike happy, make him want to stay and indulge in this fantasy even longer. That makes Mike’s guts twist.
Mike removes his hand abruptly. Will opens his eyes, confused. “Mike?”
You’re not real, Mike wants to yell. He wants to tackle this fake Will to the ground and tell him that he’ll never be the real Will, he’ll never copy him enough to fool Mike. Mike knows Will. He’s…he’s senses something was off for a while now. The real Will would never let Mike off the hook for being an idiot, would never let Mike walk all over him. The real Will had a voice.
“I want you to go home. Back to wherever you’ve come from,” Mike says, gritting his teeth. “I don’t want to see you ever again.”
“What?” Will blanches, and it looks so real. Mike shakes his head internally. Focus. “Mike, what are you talking about?”
“Whoever you are, whatever you are, I want you to just leave me alone!”
His voice is loud and carrying and Will — or the fake Will — flinches. His eyes are filled with fear and shock, and he reaches for Mike urgently, “Mike, what’s gotten into you? Are you okay? Do you want to talk about it—”
“Dammit, just leave me alone!” Mike gets up from the bed. “I can’t do this. I can’t do this. I’m losing my mind.”
“Mike—”
Mike whips around to face him, tears dripping from his eyes. “Please. Please, stop. You don't understand how much this hurts. I feel like I’m going crazy!”
“Crazy together, remember?” Will says immediately. “Whatever it is, we can deal with it together. A team. Best friends.”
Mike wants to yell again but he feels the energy seeping out of him, like blood from an open wound. He watches as Will gets up and walks towards him, wrapping him in his arms.
“Mike, I don't understand what’s going on. I don't know why you’re mad. But…I love you. And I want to help. Just…trust me, okay? Tell me what’s bothering you.”
Mike opens his mouth to speak, getting lost in the adoring and concern-filled look on Will’s face, when suddenly there’s a noise from behind him.
“Mike.”
It’s El. Mike turns around rapidly, seeking her out.
“El!”
“I’m here to take you home. If you’re ready.” She says, her voice gentle.
“Yeah, yeah,” Mike says quickly. “Let me…let me just…” He turns awkwardly back to Will, who's looking confused. “Deal with some stuff…”
“Right,” El says, so understanding it makes Mike feel guilty.
“Hi, El,” Will says, his arms still around Mike’s waist. “What’re you doing here?”
“Will, can you give us a minute?”
“Sure…” Will loosens his hold. “I’ll wait for you.”
Mike quickly takes El’s hand and drags her to another room. He can't have this discussion with “Will” boring holes in the back of his head.
“El…” He whispers to her when they’re alone. “I…I know what you told me. But… I’m so used to…to here. Whatever here is. And I don’t want to leave. I don’t know. I feel like something’s sucking me in. I can’t go back to…El, I’ve never experienced this kind of happiness before and even if things aren't making a lot of sense, I can't go back to nothing—”
“I understand,” El says, exceedingly gently. “I know this is…a very hard thing to do. Let’s…talk. Okay?”
“Okay,” Mike nods miserably.
“You know I lived in…Brenner’s lab before, right?”
Mike gulps uneasily, “...Yeah,”
“I had no idea what the outside world was like. No idea who or what was out there.”
“Yeah, I get it…”
“I’ve been hurt. I…didn’t fit in at my school in Lenora and couldn't make any friends. I didn't have a home for a long time until Hopper — Dad — adopted me. It was hard."
“I know, El,” Mike says softly.
“But I also got to meet you guys,” El says earnestly. “I got to meet you, Mike. You and Max and Will and Lucas and Dustin and Dad...and Joyce and Jonathan…they’re my family now, Will’s my family now too…” She swallows very hard, blinking away a few stray tears. “I would never have got all that if I didn't leave the lab. Even though I didn't know what was out there. Even though I got hurt and didn't have a home for a while. What I’m saying is…This is a very nice dream. You’re loved and needed and...you have things you want...and maybe the...the real world is painful. But it’s also worth it, Mike. Because it’s real. And this? This is just an illusion.”
Mike just stares at her, his face flushing from the effort of trying not to cry. “El…”
“I love you, Mike. We all do. Even Will. Especially Will. He misses you so much. You’re still loved and needed, Mike, even in the real world. You’re…perfect the way you are. And you don't need this perfect reality to feel that way.”
Mike bites his lip so hard he thinks it’s going to bleed. He longs to hug her, to beg her to tell him it's all going to be alright. But he still has one more question.
“Why am I asleep?”
“Because Vecna thought you were the best target,” El explains quietly. “He goes after people’s…insecurities. And secrets. He needed someone to feed off of while he recovered in the Upside Down. You’ve been…hiding a lot of stuff inside, I guess. A lot of…disappointments and regrets?”
Mike is silent. He can't believe this. He’s…feeding Vecna? All his happiness…was an elaborate ploy to use him like some sort of guinea pig? He feels a wave of repulsion. And the worst part is, he feels pathetic for being the one Vecna chose in the first place, the “easy target” with all the baggage.
“It’s okay to have regrets, Mike,” El says, sensing his discomfort. “I have so many too…” El suddenly squeezes her eyes shut in pain. “One, in particular.” Max, Mike thinks. “But I’ve been talking to Joyce and she told me that this makes us…human. That it’s a normal part of growing up. And that we shouldn't be ashamed of it. Because we only have one life. So we deserve to live it the way we want to, the way we deserve…”
“Joyce told you all that?” Mike laughs wetly in spite of himself. He thinks, distantly, that El's vocabulary had really improved. It had already improved greatly in the two years since she had returned to Hawkins, but Mike had never gotten the chance to marvel at it before. It seemed like Hopper and Joyce's lessons were working. “Wow, you two have gotten really close, haven't you?”
“We never would have,” El smiles warily. “If it hadn't been for you. You helped me that day, Mike. Now let me help you. You deserve to be happy. Actually happy.”
The actually happy seems to finally make something break in him as Mike furrows his brows and glares at her with determination. He refuses to live in a dream any more. He refuses to see El cry. His chin trembles as he finally makes his decision, knowing that El was right — he was always running away from his problems and now he had taken it too far.
“I’m ready to leave.” Mike knows that silent tears are streaming down his face but he doesn't care. He doesn't even bother wiping them. “Please take me out of this, El.”
“Okay.” El looks proud of him, relieved. “Okay, Mike. Thank you for listening to me.”
Mike closes his eyes as more tears stream down his face. “...And you promise you’re not mad?”
“No,” She whispers. “I miss you, Mike. I can never be mad at you. You…you deserve to be happy.” She says again.
“I’m so sorry, El,” Mike gasps.
“Ssssh. Mike, it’s okay. Just come with me.”
“Come with you?” Will’s voice sounds from behind them, making Mike jump. He’s managed to find them, and is leaning against the doorway, smiling easily. “Where are you going, Mike?”
“Will, I…” Mike can’t do this. This…this is beyond painful. “I’m leaving.”
“Okay…” Will smiles awkwardly. “Where? Can I come?”
“No, Will, I…” Mike feels like he will drown in his tears. He can barely breathe. “I’m going for good. I’m…I’m going back home. My real home.”
“What?” Will straightens, looking shocked. “Mike, are you leaving me?”
El looks sick and horrified, full of upset, and Mike can’t do this. He can’t. He turns away from Will, even as the brunette continues angrily, “Mike, come on, you promised me you’d never leave!”
“Will, please —”
“I love you,” Will sobs, rushing over to him and grabbing onto Mike’s hands, looking wild and desperate. “Mike, I love you. I can’t live without you. Please…please don’t go. I’ll be better. I’ll be better, please, Mike,”
Mike is shaking his head, crying, as Will keeps going, “I’ll die without you. I need you, Mike! Who’ll keep me safe? What if something bad happens to me again? Do you want that? Do you want me to die?”
“Will,” Mike gasps wetly. “I love you. I love you so much.”
“Please stay, Mike,” Will’s grip is almost painful now. “Please don’t leave me.”
Mike doesn't think he can do this. Will is peering up at him with his big hazel eyes, the green in them catching the light and leaving Mike breathless. He is so pretty. With his strong jaw and his big eyes and his scattered moles. Mike has spent so many hours tracing and counting them, only for…what? For him to wake up and go back to a Will who could never love him? Or want him? A Will who pushed for him and El to be together, who sees El as his sister and wants her to be happy so much he nearly cried when talking about her feelings for Mike? A Will who’ll be his best friend, but…nothing more?
He’d be disgusted. He’d never want me to kiss him. He’d never let me hold him like this. He’d never tell me he loved me with that look in his eyes. It leaves a searing, lonely feeling in Mike’s chest and stomach and arms when he thinks about it…Thinks about going back to a Will who won’t love him this way. Who’ll be indifferent and look at Mike with eyes glimmering with platonic affection but nothing more. A Will who would tilt his head and give him a blank, bewildered look if he ever found out about this.
Will Byers doesn’t want him.
But Mike wants Will. Mike really, really wants Will, and he can’t go back to the nauseous inner conflict of wanting him but also keeping him at a distance, back to the strange, awkward, tension-filled relationship they shared.
And so Mike can’t do this. He’s not losing him. Will is his life.
“Mike,” Will says, breaking him out of his thoughts, still peering up at him. “Please, I don’t want you to leave. I can’t lose you,”
“I can’t lose you, either,” Mike says brokenly, kissing the top of his head. “Fuck, Will, I can’t lose you either.”
El looks uneasy and tense. “Mike? Mike, we need to hurry.”
Will tugs him even closer. “Then don’t leave. I’ll be better. I promise,”
Mike knows this isn't real, but it feels real. That solid warm weight is as real as anything he’s ever felt, and so are the feelings bubbling in his chest. Will places his hands on the back of his head and pulls his face down slightly for a kiss. Mike flushes, knowing El is right there, but Will still kisses him passionately, making his legs go weak.
Fuck, Mike wants. He really wants him. A life without Will’s kisses, his touch. He doesn't know what the hell he’ll do.
“You’re happy,” Will says, determined. “You have a car. We’re both going to university next year, our dream university. You’ll be studying film and writing, I’ll be studying art and design. We promised, Mike. We promised we’d collaborate, that we’d visit each other’s dorm rooms all the time if we weren’t roommates. I can’t…I don’t want to go without you,”
Mike is listening intently and he can feel El’s confusion and panic. He suddenly feels a small swoop of jealousy. What if Will moves on and finds someone else in college? A new collaborator?
“Mike, it’s not real!” El yells, now angry. “You have to snap out of it! He’s lying to you! He’s feeding off all of your desires! He’s a monster!”
Will gasps with hurt, looking at El with widened eyes filled with pain and sadness. Mike sees red.
“Don’t talk to him like that, El,” Mike snaps, a wave of protectiveness washing over him at Will’s upset look. “Look, you’ve hurt him.”
“Mike, he’s lying to you! Friends don’t lie.”
He’s not my friend, Mike thinks furiously. He knows El is right but that stupid, warm, addicting fog is settling over his mind again and he can’t remember why she’s right. He feels like he’s in a daze, and he can’t think straight. All his mind can really think about is Will, his sweet words and his arms still around him.
El looks at him with some understanding, but she looks panicked and scared, “I told you we had to hurry. I knew we wouldn't have much time. He’s manipulated you again. I’m sorry, Mike. I’m so sorry. I shouldn't have wasted so much time.”
She’s crying now, but Mike can't understand why. Why is El crying? What’s there to be upset about? He tries to understand but his head begins to pound. He can hear the ticktocking of a clock again, and wants everything to stop.
“Hey,” Will says, looking at him with concern. “You okay?”
“Yes. No. I mean, yes,”
“Hey,” Will says again. “Let’s go to bed, okay? Let me take care of you. I’m here for you, Mike. You’re not alone.”
Mike melts in his embrace, feeling close to tears and he doesn't even know why.
“You always take care of me, Mike,” Will says softly, as he leads Mike away. “You always keep me safe. I want to do the same for you,”
“Y-yeah?”
“What would I do without you, Mike? I’d get hurt. Something could get me again,”
“No,” Mike says vehemently, even as Will tugs him out of the room. “No, that’ll never happen, Will. I’ll protect you. I’ll always keep you safe,”
El suddenly steps in front of the two of them, her eyes shining with anger and determination.
“Let him go!" She screams at Will, pointing a hand towards him.
Will goes flying backwards, hitting a small table. A vase drops to the floor and crashes into multiple pieces, littering the carpet.
“Will!” Mike yells, as Will looks up slowly, his eyes holding barely contained rage and hatred as they roam over El’s trembling frame. He suddenly blinks and looks back at Mike, puppy dog eyes back in full force as his bottom lip trembles.
“Mike…” He whimpers. “It hurts…”
“No.” El stops Mike from stepping forward with a cold, angry voice. “See? He’s doing it again. Feeding on your kindness. Your… your love for him. That’s all he wants, Mike. For you to love him. For you to keep being happy. He’s draining you of everything you have.”
Mike blinks and he suddenly remembers what he was doing here in the first place, why he was even talking to El. He looks back at Will, who is now frantically scrambling to his feet.
“Don’t listen to her!” He screams. “I love you, Mike! I’m the only one you’ve got!”
Mike studies the desperation in Will’s eyes, his angry-red face and the way his hands are clenched, shaking with the tension of the situation. He remembers the countless beautiful moments they’ve shared together, dinner dates and sharing chips and watching movies alone in the theatre and kissing in the darkness of his bedroom. He remembers sticking his finger in paint and swiping it on Will’s nose, laughing when Will tackled him, laughing even more when they started kissing on the floor, in front of Will’s still-wet easel. He remembers holding Will in his arms and telling him how much he cared about him while Will watched him so prettily, attentive and adoring. He remembers how Will never got mad at him in their months-long relationship, not even once. He never talked back, never even raised his voice in anger. Will was perfect. The picture-perfect boyfriend.
“I love you, too,” Mike says softly. “But El’s right. You’re not real.”
He suddenly looks to El with determination and resolution. “Please take me out of this, El. Please."
El nods, looking extremely relieved and...proud? She grabs his hand roughly. “Let’s go,” she says in her signature El-voice, soft yet earnest.
Will is still staring at him, his mouth slightly agape, face reddened from crying. Mike wants to kiss him. He also can't look at him a second longer.
“Mike,” Will whispers brokenly, and the last thing Mike sees is a lone tear drip from the other boy’s eyes and all — all —Mike wants to do is to wipe it off, hold him close, and tell him that there is nothing in the world worth having him replaced.
But he can’t and he won't and darkness spirals around him again.
XXX
When Mike wakes up with a forceful jolt, panting loudly and desperately, his ears are immediately assaulted by the sounds of excited cheering and cries of happiness.
His mom and Nancy hug him so hard he gasps for air and Dustin and Lucas yell and holler in unison, “El did it! He’s up! He’s up!”
Joyce bursts into tears and even Hopper looks more relieved than he’s ever seen him look before.
And Will? Will is looking at him with tears streaming down his face, grinning so widely he looks almost ridiculous. He’s standing up from his chair, staring at Mike like he’s never seen anything better.
“Mike," He sobs, as Mike’s mom suddenly shifts aside to let Will come closer. “Mike, you’re awake,”
Mike feels the breath squeezed out of him as Will bolts forward and hugs him hard, clutching his T-shirt with his fingers.
“I missed you so much,” Will whines, shuddering sobs racking through his body. “I missed you so much, Mike,”
“Hey, let him breathe!” Jonathan says, pulling Will back a little. “Lucas, Dustin, go get him some water!”
“I’ll get it!” His mom stands up. “Water and some food too. I wont be long, Mike, don’t worry baby…” She hurries out of the room.
“What… I… How long…?” Mike looks around at the people surrounding his bed, marvelling at everyone’s faces. He didn’t even know Hopper of all people had a heart.
“Four months,” Nancy says softly. “I’m so sorry, Mike. You were out for four months.”
Four months? Mike feels like he’s going to puke. He can't believe he was out for that long. That’s four whole months of his life.
Before he can think about it any longer, El steps into the room, her short hair dripping and her clothes soaked, a bright grin on her face.
“Mike!” She exclaims, looking genuinely happy to see him.
“El,” Mike says breathlessly, before his eyes suddenly fill with tears. “Oh God, El. I’m so sorry. ”
“What? You have nothing to be sorry for.” El says firmly, as everyone watches the exchange tensely. Will is particularly pale, his eyes darting between Mike and El.
“What…what happened to me, exactly?” Mike can’t help but ask. “I know you already explained it but…”
“One put you under one of his trances,” Hopper says in a gruff voice, suppressed anger underlying his words. “He’s weak and injured and he needed a host...Somebody to feed on. We’d all been so preoccupied with taking care of Will that…” Will suddenly shrinks, looking very embarrassed. “...we forgot that other people were as likely a potential target as any.”
“He showed you your deepest fantasies.” Nancy continued in a trembling voice. “Anything to get you to stay asleep. He put you in a dream where you’d have anything you ever wanted.”
Will, Mike thinks. He suddenly feels sick.
“I…Can I be alone for a moment?”
“Of course, honey,” Joyce says suddenly, “This has all been a massive shock. We understand.”
“Yeah, you’re…you’re incredible for breaking out of that, man,” Lucas says, looking genuine. “I couldn't have done that honestly. We missed you, Mike,”
“Yeah,” Will chimes in unexpectedly. “More than you could ever imagine.”
When they all eventually leave the room, only his mom remaining — sandwiches and water in tow — Mike can’t help but replay Will’s words in his head over and over again.
XXX
But he can’t look at him.
The real Will looks tired, dark circles underneath his eyes. He looks like he hasn’t had a decent night’s sleep in eons and he smiles half as much as his dream counterpart.
Mike still can’t help the speeding up of his heartbeat whenever he enters the room, hazel eyes finding and locking with his, filled with worry and confusion and…hurt.
Mike hates seeing it there. But he can’t face him. Not after everything.
So he always looks away, or turns on his side and shuts his eyes, feigning exhaustion.
Well, he is exhausted. Not just physically but mentally. He cannot believe that the boy he couldn’t bear to spend a second apart from in his dream is someone he can’t even stand to see now. Not lest the memories come flooding back. How angry would Will be if he found out? He'd be betrayed, pissed off, and disgusted all at once. Mike couldn't be more ashamed of himself if he tried. And so he continued to evade Will. And he was willing to do so for as long as it took.
XXX
One day, however, Will has enough.
“Mike.”
Will is standing by his bed, right behind him. Mike doesn’t respond, feeling his heart jump to his throat. Will sounds pissed.
“I know you’re awake, alright? Just...just look at me, will you?”
Mike feels shame prickling his skin. He doesn’t move.
“Please?”
It’s that voice, soft and plaintive, that makes him twitch uncomfortably, and then finally, finally, roll his body the other way around, covers still enveloping him.
Will is staring at him, a little surprised he acquiesced. The surprise vanishes and is promptly replaced by anger.
“What the hell, Mike?” Will demands in a low voice. “Why have you been avoiding me?”
“Haven’t been avoiding you,” Mike lies.
“Come on, Mike, we both know that’s a lie,” Will says in frustration. “What…what did I do?"
“Nothing!”
“Then why won’t you talk to me?” He demands. “God, I... I missed you, Mike. I missed you so damn much!”
Mike’s eyes widen as tears fill Will’s eyes, making them glisten in the light. “These four months...they were hell, Mike. You don’t know how awful they were for me. I know you’re adjusting to a very big shock but...I’m so glad you’re awake. I used to dream you’d wake up one day, and that we’d…” Will flushes. “We’d go back to being a team again. Best friends,” He echoes Mike’s words.
Those two words hurt more than anything he’s said so far and Mike is suddenly closed off again. “Yeah, well, I still haven’t recovered from being told that everything in my life for the past four months was a lie, okay? So no, I don’t want to just jump back in to be your best friend again.”
It’s stupid, he knows he’s being stupid and hurtful and ridiculous but he hates this. He hates this.
“What? What are you...We never stopped being best friends, did we?”
“I don’t know, you’re the one who said you wanted us to go back to it. Like we stopped.”
They had stopped. In a way. Mike’s heart feels like it could rupture from the pain. They had become so much more.
“I just meant…” Will runs a hand through his hair. “Are you mad at me? Did…did I do something? Are you just uncomfortable telling me what happened? Because I get it. I don’t need you to…if you’re uncomfortable…Did I maybe…? In your dream, was I…?” Will is flushing now, looking very flustered. “Mike, I didn’t do something wrong when you were asleep, did I? Because I’d never hurt —“
“Just leave. I mean it.”
Will looks a little nervous but does what he’s told, “Okay. I’m sorry.”
He heads for the door, but then glances over his shoulder, “But I’ll be back,”
XXX
He comes back the next day, and the next, and by the sixth day Mike’s stupid, traitorous heart has given in and he finds himself sitting next to Will on the bed, as the two of them read a comic Will borrowed from Lucas.
“This is such a major plot hole,” Will’s saying, huffing out a laugh as he points to the page, oblivious to the way he’s wormed himself into Mike’s heart, Mike’s bed. Mike had sworn he would avoid Will for as long as it took until his feelings sorted themselves out, but the few daily visits, and proposals to read comics or listen to music had worn him out.
“Yeah, but I think the art style’s amazing. I mean, it’s majorly improved from the last volume.”
“Well, yeah, it’s brighter, I guess,” Will furrows his brow as he thinks. Mike wants to smooth it away with his thumb and the urge makes his heart ache. “But the story is a bit weird. I mean, why would Peter Parker do something so stupid?”
“I don’t know,” Mike says softly. “Didn’t he do it because he’s madly in love with Gwen Stacey? They do say that..." He swallows. “That love makes you crazy,”
Will looks at him and there’s a strange expression on his face. “Yeah,” he says in a low voice, eyes never leaving Mike’s. “It does.”
Not, yeah, that’s what they say or yeah, I guess so or even that’s kind of dumb, Mike.
No. Yeah, it does.
Mike is taken aback by the look on Will’s face. It’s familiar. And then Mike realises or moreso, remembers what it is. Longing. Affection.
Will must notice his expression shift because he quickly looks away, flushing. “Sorry, I just meant…”
“Hey,” Mike says. “Remember when we...when we argued about the painting? A few weeks before…before I went to sleep?”
Will goes scarlet. “Mike, what —"
“You told me not to overthink it, that you’d just wanted me to feel better. Even if it was by lying. And even if it was a ridiculously stupid idea to do so.”
“Mike…” Will looks anywhere but at him. “What is this? Come on, don’t bring it up again,”
“You were vulnerable with me,” Mike says, and now Will does look at him, eyes wide. “That day in the van, and even the day I confronted you. I’ve never been able to...to be like that with you, much. Not for a while, at least.” Well, he had in his dream. Quiet conversations, secrets shared against lips, professions of love kissed into the skin of his neck, until Will had squirmed and squirmed and become a blushing mess under him. It was enough to make Mike feel lightheaded. He presses on. “I think I’m ready to talk about it. A bit.”
“About…the painting?”
“About my dream,”
Will pales, “Mike, are you su—“
“Yes, I am, so don’t make me chicken out of it, please. This is hard enough.”
“I’m sorry—“
“Don’t be. Just...listen?” Mike gives him a pleading look, and Will’s eyes soften.
“Of course,” He says, like he can’t believe Mike has to ask. “Of course, Mike.”
“You already know from El that the dream was...kind of like a fantasy world. I mean, it was delusional but…it was amazing, you know? Pretty amazing.”
“I can imagine.”
“Everything I’ve ever wanted. My parents getting along and happy, supportive of me. My friends enjoying my company and my campaigns. My campaigns were amazing, Will,” Mike laughed. “All fragments of different ideas I’ve used and am yet to use. Everyone liked me at school, I was going to my dream university next year and planning to major in Film and Writing…Like I’ve always talked about…”
Will looks equal parts sad and elated, as if he has always known Mike’s dreams by heart (Mike knows he probably has) but is hurt by the wistful tone in Mike’s voice.
“That’s all achievable,” Will says softly. “Trust me, Mike. All of it.”
Mike laughs, slings an arm around Will’s shoulder. He can feel Will sink into it, and he smiles. “Yeah, well, that’s not everything. The Upside Down, Vecna, the Mind Flayer…it was all over. We were happy, Will.”
“We’ll defeat him,” Will says earnestly. “I promise, Mike.”
“...That’s not all,” Mike’s voice is low and rough now. “I had someone, too. Someone…special.”
Will stares, looking at him in dawning comprehension. “Okay…” He swallows and says slowly. “Was it…El?”
Mike smiles at him sadly. “No, Will, it wasn’t El.”
“Someone you know? Or maybe someone entirely new?” Will asks, and Mike isn't sure why Will’s voice is so strained.
“Someone I know,” Mike agrees. “And we did everything together. And I mean everything. From playing D and D, to coming up with campaign ideas together, to driving to school together…” Here he pauses to laugh. “I had a brand new car, I forgot to mention. We drove it everywhere. Diner dates, movie dates, arcade dates, the lot. And we…we slept over at each other’s houses a lot and we were…we were properly in love, Will.”
The last sentence is a strong admission that leaves him breathless, that he knows can be taken two ways. Will has been watching him with a very strange expression, and he swallows heavily now and gives him a sad little smile, “Must be some girl, huh? I mean, she liked D and D too?”
“Yeah, she,” Mike’s nervous now, a smile still playing on his lips. “You wanna know who “she” is?”
Will’s eyes flash with reluctance, but also curiosity. “Sure.”
“Promise you won't judge me?”
“I won't, Mike. You know me.”
“Promise you won't laugh?”
“Mike! I won't,”
“Or hate me?” Mike can feel hot tears prickle his eyes.
“God, Mike, is it…is it Max or something?” Will sounds utterly frantic. “Because you're starting to worry me here —” His sentence is abruptly cut off by Mike’s sudden kiss, as he surges forward and does what he's wanted to do ever since he first laid eyes on Will upon awaking.
It's so familiar, so warm, but unlike dream Will, real Will doesn't kiss back, doesn't respond, and Mike pulls away knowing that he's fucked things up forever. But he couldn't have lived with the memories in his head anyways. He couldn't have pretended that they never happened.
Will is staring at him in pure shock and Mike looks away, swallowing regretfully, heart pounding so hard it’s worse than Vecna’s stupid clocks. “Sorry. I’m sorry. I’m so…God, just…just go. Please.”
Will doesn’t move. “Mike…look at me.”
Mike obeys, eyes contrite. Will is looking at him like he rocked his world.
“You…you kissed me.”
“I know.”
“You…What...Why?”
“It was you, Will.” Mike whispers shamefully. “You were the one in my dream. And that’s why I’ve been avoiding you for days and days. I can stand losing all that other stuff, mom and dad’s support and that stupid car, but not you. Not you, Will. That hurts.”
He’s barely done speaking before Will’s slamming his lips against his so hard he’s knocked back a little. Will presses his lips to his deeply, tears streaming down his face.
“Mike…” He sobs. “Mike…”
Mike looks at him in horror as Will pulls back, crying openly now, “You…you’re not screwing with me right now?”
“W-what? No.”
“Gosh, Mike, I...I can’t believe it.”
“Yeah? Maybe this is another one of Vecna’s dreams.” Mike half jokes, feeling disoriented and kind of dreamy.
“Idiot,” Will chides, kissing him again quickly. “You should have…I never…Mike, I’ve loved you for years. Since you could barely reach the kitchen sink. You should have told me! I would have never judged you. I always thought you’d never want me. I…what do you think the painting was about, Mike? I love you!”
Mike is shell shocked by all this new information but he can’t help the raging happiness inside his chest, melting away the icy confusion. “So…does this mean…You…We can maybe…?”
Will kisses him again, and this time Mike pushes him to his back on the bed, grinning down at him, kissing him everywhere — lips, nose, cheeks, forehead, the tips of his ears.
Will’s laughing and squirming, blushing the same way he did in Mike’s fantasy, his entire face warm, and his neck arching gently to the side as Mike presses kisses down there, warm, lingering ones that have Will sighing.
“Don’t stop,” He begs, when Mike pulls away. “Please, Mike,”
Now that makes desire pool deep below in his belly and Mike’s mouth latches to his. They kiss for ages, breaking away only to pant noisily in each other’s faces, eyes glazed over and cheeks red, before pressing together again greedily.
Every time Mike pulls away, Will chases his lips and vice versa. And when Mike slips his tongue inside, Will lets out a whimper that has Mike smirking.
Will detangles his arms from around Mike’s neck and buries his face in his hands. Mike slowly peels them away.
“Hey,” he grins. “Hey, it’s okay.”
“Shut up.”
“You’re crimson, did you know that?”
"I said shut up!”
“So cute, Will,” Mike nuzzles his nose along his neck, smiling like a maniac. “You are so, so cute.”
“Mike, I’m going to murder you.”
“What? By squeaking at me?”
“By literally murdering you in cold blood,”
Mike kisses the crook of his neck again and Will goes silent, exhaling a little loudly. Mike kisses the same spot again, reverently, and Will makes a little breathy noise. Mike can’t help but kiss all the way down his throat, then back up again, then nibble his way down again. Will is really responding, his hands now in Mike’s hair.
“You like that?” Mike asks breathlessly, desperate to please Will, have him as pliant as clay in his hands again, happy to be with him, to be with Mike.
“Fuck, yes, Mike, shut up—”
Mike laughs, dropping a kiss to his lips and then cuddling close.
Will wraps his arms around him, squeezing tightly.
“You’ll…you’ll tell me what you saw then?” He asks in a nervous voice. “The stuff about us? If you’re comfortable,”
“Sure,” Mike shrugs. “If you tell me how come you’ve loved me for ages and never told me!”
“Mike…” Will groans.
“Seriously? Since when we were kids?”
Will groans some more.
In the end, it’s a fantasy world of its own.
XXX
EXTRA!:
The real Will is surprisingly different. In a good way.
For one, he actually argues. Mike didn't know that would be a relief but it is. Will doesn't ask Mike what he’d like him to say, or feel, or think. He is snarky and sharp and sassy and oftentimes boils Mike’s blood, but Mike can't complain. Gone is the lifeless robot slave and Mike feels the strangest combination of irritation and euphoria when Will tells him, one warm day, that his interpretation of a comic book ending is not only wrong but stupid, a stupidity he has never seen the likes of before.
“How can you seriously believe that? It’s like you haven't even been paying attention to the story at all,” Will says incredulously.
Mike gapes at him. “What? Will, come on! What else could it be about?”
Will knocks gently on the side of his head. “Hello? Is anyone in there? Or is this just a head filled with rocks?”
Mike gasps, frustration and amusement spiking through him, and he suddenly tackles Will to the bed, grabbing both of his hands.
“Take it back, you asshole,” He says through laughter, pinning him down into the bed.
“Take what back? That you’re the biggest idiot I’ve ever seen?” Will asks innocently.
“Yes! I mean, I’m not an — ugh, just take it back!”
“Hmm…” Will pretends to consider it. “No.”
“Oh yeah?” Mike raises an eyebrow, suddenly transferring one of Will’s hands to his other one, so that he has a hand left free. “Not even if I…”
“Don’t,” Will says, suddenly panicked, his eyes round and wide. “Don’t you dare , Mike,”
Mike grins, not even trying to disguise the evil in it, and attacks Will.
Will gasps and laughs, bucking helplessly as Mike tickles him. “Hey! Mike, hey! Stop! Stooopp!”
“Take it back, then,”
“Mike, I will kill you!” Mike knows that Will can probably break free of his hold but he’s weak from laughter and too busy writhing this way and that.
“Hmm? By laughing at me?” Mike digs his hand into Will’s belly and Will bucks in shock, laughing helplessly. “What the fuck, Mike. Stop! Stooop!”
“You’re so cute, Will,” Mike teases, enjoying the pretty flush on his face and the even prettier laughter.
“Ookay! Ha— okay! You’re—you’re not an idiot! You’re not — please, Mike!” Will dissolves into fresh laughter.
“Say I’m the smartest guy you know,”
“Mike…” Will says his name all breathy and nice, and it’s kind of doing something to Mike.
“Say it,” Mike says sternly, not relenting in the onslaught in the least.
“You’re the — hey! — smartest guy I know! Please! Stop stop stooop!”
Mike finally stops, grinning dopily, and watches as Will’s frantic squirming comes to an end and he lies there catching his breath, a red flush spread across his neck. Mike is too busy watching him to react fast enough to Will pushing him onto his back and straddling him.
“I’m not letting you get away with that,” The brunette says seriously. “You’re going to be sincerely converted to my choice of interpretation by the time I’m done with you and you are going to thank me for enlightening you,”
The dream Will would have thanked Mike for gracing him with his views and accepted them in a heartbeat. The real Will is determined to torture Mike into listening to him. Mike unironically prefers the latter.
Mike raises an eyebrow in challenge, and bites back a smile when Will raises one back.
So Mike’s enjoying this new dynamic of theirs more than he’ll ever admit. He loves kissing Will, loves holding him in his arms and loves showering him with love and affection. He also loves when Will showers him with affection and brings him new drawings every day.
Mike can scarcely believe it. Will Byers really does love him. Has loved him for years.
That’s what he tells Mike, anyways. Every day.
Before going to sleep together and after waking up every morning, the smaller boy kissing Mike reverently and whispering it like a secret, “I love you,”
He’ll even whisper it during a movie, making Mike become an absolute gooey mess. And when they make out. And when they’re in a room full of people, quietly, under his breath. And especially when Mike has anxiety attacks about things not being real.
“I’m real,” Will reassures him each and every time, patiently. “And I love you so much it hurts. Plus, you don't have a brand new car. And I don't know if you're getting one any time soon.”
“Do you really love me?” Mike once whispers petulantly, in the middle of the night when they’re both supposed to be sleeping. “Or do you just feel bad I was put in a Vecna-induced coma for four months?”
“Mike,” Will groans. “It’s 3 am,”
“This is important!”
Will nuzzles his nose against his and holds his hands, kissing them, “I’ve loved you since we were little kids. Mike, you literally have the painting I made for you on the wall.”
“Mmm…” Mike kisses him. “I know. I just really like hearing you say it,”
“You’ll get tired of it,” Will says, a note of worry in his voice.
“Never,”
“No?” Will sidles up to him. “Okay, then — I love you, I love you, I love you!” He whisper yells in his ears, grinning mischievously as Mike scrunches up his shoulders and scowls, “That just tickled!”
And there are other things too — The real Will gets genuinely angry, and he makes Mike genuinely angry as well. There are a lot of squabbles, some petty and some serious, and there are definitely times when Mike seriously wants to suffocate Will with a pillow. Even if they end up making up, with Mike sometimes embarrassingly clingy and whispering more apologies than he can count in Will’s ears, it’s not pleasant. But it’s real and refreshing and Mike likes that.
The real Will looks tired sometimes, messy, unkempt, grouchy. He doesn't always look like an angel descended from heaven, not a hair out of place. But he’s still perfect to Mike.
Their makeout sessions aren't always smooth, perfect experiences. Their noses bump and their teeth knock together and sometimes Mike bites Will’s neck too hard and Will yelps or flinches or tells him off.
The real Will doesn’t always let Mike do whatever he wants and he definitely doesn’t — much to Mike’s relief — know his fantasies. They bicker, argue over what feels good, and come to a compromise, and Mike loves it. He loves knowing that Will genuinely likes what he’s doing to him, and is not just someone who’ll mindlessly put up with anything and give Mike zero valuable feedback. The best thing is that Mike thinks his fantasies could be a reality soon, if they take it slow and steady and natural, and Will has some fantasies of his own that Mike is more than delighted to indulge him in.
His parents might not have the best relationship but they still love him. Even his dad, who, believe it or not, cried silently when he discovered Mike had woken up. Mike got the first hug he’d ever gotten from his father that day, as Ted Wheeler said gruffly, “Glad you’re awake son,” then paused to add, “We can finally get rid of all these people. There's no peace and quiet around here anymore.”
And so Mike’s happy. He still plays video games with Lucas and Dustin, who are still his best friends, and they shout over each other each time one of them loses, while Will rolls his eyes at their antics and pretends like he wasn't rooting for Mike the entire game. And he still watches movies with El, who he thinks he has grown closer to than ever before, the two of them grinning at each other on the sofa while watching the comedy movies he borrowed from Jonathan and sharing a bowl of popcorn. Mike borrows Nancy’s car whenever he needs to, and is excited for college where he’ll still be studying film and writing, even if his dad suggested business and his mom suggested engineering. Do they even know him?
Mike even concedes to considering computer science, and he and Will discuss the future of technology for hours together. Will really does want to go to art school, even as he muses over the computer science option with Mike (“I want to be with you,” he insists.).
They both promise to go to the same college, and save up for a shared apartment even if it’ll cost a fortune. Will promises to find work to save up for it and Mike promises to take care of Will for the rest of his life, getting a shove in return and an amused “You sap!” aimed at him.
And so Mike is happy. He’s really, really happy. And he’s ready to take on the future with his best friend, no, his boyfriend. And most of all, he knows that things won’t be perfect but that they’ll be real — every bit of happiness will be real and will belong exclusively to him and Will. The love of his life.