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Will laid on the mattress staring at the ceiling of the Wheeler’s basement. He was listening to a mixtape Jonathan had made him a while ago. It was a few years old and he could probably recite the songs from memory but he liked it all the same. It was one of the few things that made him feel calm, even with the potential end of the world looming over him.
Normally, he’d be doing homework or painting which keep him occupied enough to not notice the time passing, but his homework was all done and art block had him unable to even pick up a brush.
He could go upstairs to hang out with Mike but he didn’t want to bother him.
They’ve been hanging out a lot more since El and Mike broke up but it felt different. It sort of felt like Mike was trying to make up for something he did, even though Will didn’t know what.
On top of that, recently, he had been acting weird. Mike seemed a lot more anxious when they hung out, it bothered him.
It’s not like Will expected them to go back to how they used to be when they got to Hawkins, especially not with all that happened, but he atleast hoped that Mike would still feel comfortable with him. He hated not being able to know what was going through his mind anymore, they used to be able to communicate with just a glance and now Will barely even knows how he’s feeling half of the time.
He heard a knock on the basement door. “Will?” Mike’s voice called out.
Speak of the devil. Will thought. Or is it think of the devil?
Before he could dwell on the question, He reached over to the walkman placed next to his makeshift bed and paused the music. “Come in.” He replied.
He listened as Mike walked down the stairs, slowly emerging from behind the wall. He was wearing a stripped red and blue sweater paired with dark jeans and his used up black converse he always wore. Mike had a rather anxious expression on his face that made Will’s stomach churn.
“Hi.” He whispered, so quiet it almost got lost in the wind coming in through the basement’s window, but Will heard it.
“Hi.” Will gave a soft smile. “You okay?”
Mike just stared at him for a solid 10 seconds seemingly in a trace before shaking his head and smiling back. “Yeah. I’m good”
Will could tell he had something on his mind, but he knew Mike well enough to tell he didn’t want to talk about it.
They stood in silence for a bit just smiling at each other. It felt weirdly intimate, like they were in they’re own little world, away from all the monsters and anxiety, away from Hawkins.
Will temporarily forgot to be worried as he stared into Mike’s eyes. He’d always loved how big they were. Mike’s eyes were the reason Will learned to draw realistic eyes before any other part of the face as a kid. Their friends often compared his eyes to a lost puppy, and honestly, Will saw the similarities.
Will snapped out of his daze, closing his eyes for a moment, feeling his face slightly heat up, before asking. “Did you need something?”
Mike cleared his throat and stared at the ground. “yes.” Mike’s eyes returned to Will. “I I mean.. no.” He stuttered out. Will noticed he was picking at his nails, a nervous habit he’d had since they were children. “I was wondering if you wanted to.. uhm.” He trailed off, still staring intently at Will
Will watched as Mike swallowed, his eyes following the movement of his throat. He sat up straighter, his back pressed against the wall. “What?” He chuckled a bit.
Mike let out a deep exhale. “I have a surprise for you. If you could.. just.. come with me.” He gave Will one of those awkward wonky smiles signature of Mike wheeler.
God, Will loved that smile, it had stayed the same all throughout their friendship. Mike’s face got sharper and longer as they grew but the smile was always a constant.
Will’s eyebrows furrowed “Go with you where?” He asked hesitantly, knowing Mike this could range from illegally breaking and entering a random store to going to the cinema and watching a movie.
“I can’t tell you.” Mike spoke in a matter-of-fact tone. “It would ruin the surprise.”
“Okay.” Will said with the confidence of a scared baby deer. He looked down at his clothes, he was wearing a grey hoodie(that he stole from Mike.) and blue sweatpants. “Let me change first then I’ll-“
“No!” Mike said a little too loud in the comforting quiet of the basement. “I mean.. uh.. There’s no need. You can just.. go like that.” He lowered his volume significantly as he spoke.
Will narrowed his eyes suspiciously. “Why are you being wierd?” He attempted to keep his face straight but a smile tugged at his lips.
Mike feigned offense “I’m not being wierd!” He exclaimed. “I’m just…excited?” It came out as more of a question than a statement.
“Uh-huh.” Will said, still not believing him. He stood up from the bed and pushed past Mike to go up the stairs.
He stopped mid-way when he noticed Mike wasn’t following him. He turned around and found Mike just staring at him with an unreadable expression. “We going or..?”
“Yeah! Yes. Sorry.” He shook his head and began to follow Will.
They put their shoes on and got on their bikes. Mike looked up at the sky for a second, frowning at the storm clouds forming.
“Just follow me.” He said before taking off into the street.
The ride over was filled with a comfortable silence, interrupted occasionally by a question from Will. ‘Is it far?’ ‘Have I been here before?’ ‘Is it important?’ Answers to these questions being deliberately short and vague. ‘No.’ ‘Yes.’ ‘Technically no.’ None of which helped calm Will’s curiosity.
They turned a corner and Will recognized the trail immediately. “Are we going to my old house?” His eyes widened in surprise and he looked over at Mike.
Mike’s shoulders slumped for just a moment before he readjusted his posture and began pedaling faster. “You’ll see.” He said in an ominous tone.
Will stayed close behind following Mike but once they reached the Byers’ old house Mike hopped off the bike and watched as Will did the same. Then he began walking into the woods behind the house looking back to make sure Will was following.
Where the hell are we going? Will wondered. The quarry? No, Mike hates it, and Hopper’s cabin is too far from here so that just leaves…
Oh no.
Will panicked internally at the realization. He had destroyed castle Byers back in the summer before moving California. Mike had seen it too, granted he was also panicking because Will was mad at him and also because something was coming for them so maybe he forgot?
As they got closer and closer Will couldn’t hold that information in anymore, whatever surprise Mike had it would be ruined because of the destruction of Castle Byers. “Uhm.. Mike I have to tell you something.”
Mike gave a hum of recognition, briefly glancing at Will over his shoulder.
Will took a deep breath and stared at the back of Mike’s head as he spoke. “Do you remember the summer before.. uhm.. before Lenora?” His voice was small in the thick woods.
The other boy paused his steps, turning around slowly to look at Will. His expression a mix of confusion and fear. “Yes..?”
“Do you remember the.. uhm.. when we fought and it was raining and I biked home and then you came after me.. and.. stuff?”
Mike stiffened before him. He gave a small nod.
There was a pause, after which Will continued. He took a step forward. “Well.. uh..” Will suddenly found it very difficult to word what he was trying to say.
“If this is about what I said-“ Mike spoke up, regret clear in his face.
“No! No, you.. you already apologized for that.. it’s just.. uhm..” Will watched as Mike visibly relaxed, then tensed up again.
“Then what-“ Mike was interrupted.
“I destroyed Castle Byers!” Will barked out, squeezing his eyes together as to not see Mike’s reaction.
Silence stretched between the two, eventually broken by a small “oh.” Delivered by Mike.
Shortly after that Will felt a tug on his hand, pulling him forward, forcing him to walk, and slowly opened his eyes. Mike was, once again, turned away from him and walking towards the destroyed territory.
He followed for a bit in silence, being too flustered by the contact to properly register that they were moving again. Eventually he came back to reality and, without stopping, spoke “Did.. Did you not hear me?”
“I did.” Mike spoke casually.
Will’s confusion only deepened as the other boy didn’t give more of an explanation as to why they were still heading for Castle Byers.
After a bit, Will broke the quiet once again. “Mike, I’m serious.”
“I know.” the raven haired boy simply replied.
Will just stared at Mike’s curls as they got closer, his bewilderment rendering him temporarily speechless. He eventually managed to get a few words out. “Then what..?”
But before he could finish his inquiry, the sight before him forced his brain blank.
Right there, where the debris should have been, laid a fully rebuilt Castle Byers. It wasn’t exactly the same as before, it had been upgraded in order to fit two rather tall teenagers but other than that it was exactly like it had been the day he and Jonathan created it, following the instructions of a drawing he himself had sketched.
A gasp escaped his lips, and he approached the structure without thinking, breaking the contact with Mike. “What is..?” He whispered.
“Uhm..” Mike spoke up behind him. Will turned to face him. “I know it isn’t.. like.. super accurate, and it’s probably not as sturdy but.. yeah.” He cleared his throat and stared down at his shoes. Will could faintly see a blush forming on Mike’s face but he chalked it up to the temperature.
Before Will could overthink it, he walked over to Mike and hugged him. Mike flinched slightly at the contact but quickly reciprocated.
“Thank you.” Will said softly. He felt Mike’s breath hitch slightly.
Mike pulled back slowly, just enough to look at Will, his eyes held a gentleness Will hadn’t seen in a long time. The brunette moved his hand up to Mike’s shoulders and they stood, staring at each other.
Time passed, it could have been years or seconds and Will wouldn’t know, though, it was probably the latter.
Suddenly, the position they were in hit Will, Mike’s hands on his hips, his own on Mike’s shoulders. Their faces were inches apart, if he just leaned forward a bit…
Nope! He cannot do that. This is Mike we’re talking about, the guy who’s been his best friend since he was in kindergarten, the guy who dated his sister, who is a girl.
Will felt his face heat up and he cleared his throat. He took a step back, staring down at the ground. “Uhm..” he spoke. “Thank you this is.. this is really nice, Mike.”
He looked up, Mike’s eyes no longer held the gentleness, replaced by his usual look. “That’s isn’t.. that wasn’t the full surprise.” Mike slipped past Will and ducked down to enter Castle Byers. He gestured at Will to follow and stepped in.
Will copied his movements, stepping inside, as the sheet closed behind him he was hit with all the memories that the structure held.
The walls had all the photos they did before as well as some new ones created after the destruction. Will eyes caught on a specific one, it was a picture of the party dressed as ghostbusters, the one he’d torn in a fit of rage. Mike had taped it together, Will felt his smile widen as his eyes softened.
The boys sat down, legs crossed and knees pressed together, Castle Byers was bigger but still just a tad bit too small for the two. Mike pulled out two canvases from behind him, as well as a bag containing a multitude of paints, brushes and two palettes. Will felt his stomach flutter as he looked at Mike, the other boy was staring right back, a smile plastered on his face.
“I thought we could.. uhm.. y’know…” Mike trailed off, clearly embarrassed. Will raised an eyebrow, he knew perfectly well what Mike meant, but it’s wouldn’t be as fun if he just followed through.
Mike sighed, “I thought we could.. like paint.. each other.” He paused for a moment then continued. “You don’t have to I just- you haven’t painted in a while and I thought it would be fun. We don’t even have to keep them we’ll just.. or- we’ll- I actually.. I actually would want to kept yours but you don’t have to keep mine. It’ll probably..“ He cut himself off as he heard the giggles coming from Will.
He tried to cover them behind his palm but it was very clear. Mike huffed out a laugh and visually relaxed. “Are you laughing? I’m trying to do something nice-“
“I know, I know I just-“ He laughs some more. “I can’t believe you did all this.” He gestured at the build as well as the paints.
Mike just stared at Will before handing over the canvas and the palate. “Is that a yes..?” He asked hesitantly.
Will began ruffling through the paints, letting his actions speak for him.
He began setting down all the colors he needed, there were a few which weren’t in the bag but thankfully Will knew enough color theory to be able to make them himself, it was clear the colors weren’t picked out by an artist.
He painted subconsciously, with the amount of times he’s painted and sketched Mike it’s basically a reflex. Throughout the course of their entire friendship, Will has managed to fill up countless sketchbooks with just Mike’s face. His side profile, the back of his head, his resting face, his happy smile, everything was captured on paper by Will. He’s pretty sure he could draw Mike with his eyes closed.
Will briefly looked up to see Mike, his face scrunched into a concentrated pout. Will couldn’t help but smile.
A few minutes into the activity he heard something hitting the roof of the structure, followed by a lot more. The rain wasn’t strong, just light and airy, enough to get everything wet without ruining plans.
Surprisingly, Castle Byers shielded them from the droplets. It was able to do that before but considering Mike was the one who built it… Will was rather skeptical. He might be in love with him but Will can admit that carpentry is not Mike’s strong suit.
Mike seemed to feel the same way as he looked up at the ceiling then over at Will with a rather proud expression. Will just chuckled a bit and went back to his painting.
When Will was finally done with the painting he set down the brushes and analyzed his work. It wasn’t anything amazing, he could probably do way better if he had more time and his own paints but it wasn’t completely horrible. It was a close up of Mike’s face from the chest up, his wonky smile stretched across his face and his eyes big and brown.
Will was about to show Mike before the other boy abruptly snapped his head to the side, shutting his eyes tight.
“Don’t show me yet!” He exclaimed. “Let me finish mine and we’ll do a reveal.”
Will let out a breathy chuckle. “Okay.”
Mike returned to his painting, his face going back to its angered-like expression.
Will observed Mike as he carefully painted something right at the top of the canvas. It didn’t take long for him to finish, quickly setting down the brush and staring at his painting for a bit before announcing he was done.
“Should I show you mine now?” Will asked, nervous to see Mike’s reaction. It’s not like it’s the first time he’s drawn something for him, he’d done it a million times, but each and every time it felt terrifying. It felt like Mike was going to take one look at the painting and realize what’s hidden behind every stroke.
Mike nodded eagerly, pressing his own canvas to his chest, careful not to get paint on his clothes. Will noted the way Mike’s hands were shaking slightly as he held it.
He took a deep breath before showing Mike the art, flashing a nervous smile at the raven haired boy.
Mike’s eyes widened and his face lit up as soon as he laid eyes upon the piece. He reached out and grabbed it, his fingers brushing Will’s in the process. The brunette quickly pulled his hands back, looking away slightly to cover up the blush forming on his cheeks.
Mike looked up and Will’s breath was knocked out of him. The gentleness in his eyes was back, mixed with adoration and something else Will couldn’t decode.
“Do you like it?” Will spoke quietly.
“I love it.” Mike answered quickly, almost interrupting him. He looked back down at the painting in his hands. “You made me look so much cooler than I actually look.” He said as he huffed out a small laugh.
“You do look cool.” Will spoke before he could stop himself.
Mike paused and looked up once again, his face gaining color at the compliment, then he gave Will a soft smile. He set the canvas aside and grabbed his own piece.
He looked down at it, expression morphing into nervousness, and closed his eyes before taking a deep breath.
Silence stretched between the two as Will waited patiently. Eventually Mike let out a shaky exhale which caused Will to immediately worry.
“Mike?” His eyebrows furrowed as he continued staring at the way Mike slightly shook, clutching the painting. “Mike, are you okay?” He reached out his hand and was about to place it above Mike’s before deciding not to.
What was happening? Will asked himself. Did he realize? Was that it? Did he finally put together the pieces and realize the truth about everything? Does he hate him? A thousand anxious questions circled Will’s head.
Will was about to speak before Mike beat him to it. “Okay.” His voice was breathy, small and very unlike Mike.
His eyes stayed on the painting as he spoke. “Before you see this I.. I should tell you the truth.” He paused for a second before continuing. “The truth is.. I..uhm..” He huffed out a breath.
“The truth is I have had this.. thing.. ever since we were kids and I never- I never realized because I was so busy being an asshole and acting like I was supposed to, according to everyone. And then when I did realize, instead of facing it, I lied to myself and told myself it wasn’t true.. uhm..”
Will was beyond confused. “Mike, What-“ He was interrupted.
“I know that I’ve already apologized to you a million times.” Will noticed the tears welling up in his eyes. “But that won’t be enough because I am so truly sorry for everything I did to you and I just.. I need to finally tell you the reason. I know that-“ A sob escaped him before he could finish. “I know that you’ll probably hate me and that’s.. that’s fine I’ll understand. But I just-“
“Mike, What are you talking about?” At this point was was anxious and worried and terrified all at once. He wanted to run, comfort Mike and shake him until he told him what the fuck was going on all at the same time, it was overwhelming. He was about to ask another question when he locked eyes with Mike.
A sharp pain shot through Will’s chest at the sight, trails of tears ran down Mike’s cheeks, his eyes were already red and his lip wobbled. He looked so sad. It had been so long since Will had seen him like this and all he could imagine was that little boy who came up to him on the swings so long ago, asking him to be his friend not knowing it would change Will’s life forever.
Will’s eyes also filled up with tears. “Your scaring me.”
Mike’s eyes widened and he somehow looked ever sadder and more fearful. He looked back down at his painting.
What the fuck could possibly be on that canvas that could warrant this? Will was about to ask a more politely worded question before Mike turned the canvas.
Will froze.
The painting was actually not that bad, it wasn’t Picasso, and it didn’t really look like Will himself but you could tell Mike put a lot of effort into making it look good. On top of the painted Will, however, were the three words that caused this entire dilema.
‘I love you.’
Will blinked a few times, even rubbed his eyes to see if he wasn’t hallucinating.
Mike just stared at Will, his expression still filled with fear.
“Are you.. Is this..” Will couldn’t get a full sentence out. “What?” He looked up at Mike, who took a deep breath.
“I..I love you.” His voice was shaky and small and clearly scared.
“Like.. romantically?” Will asked, he could barely hear over the sound of his heart pounding in his chest.
“Like romantically.” Mike repeated, stating as a fact and not a question.
Will just stared at him, he didn’t know what to do. All his life he’s imagined this moment only in fantasy worlds, in a paladin stating his oath, in a cleric’s last words. He never allowed himself to ever actually in-vision it happening in his real life. It would’ve hurt too much to do that while knowing it could never be true.
Now it was actually happening. The boy he’s been in love with ever since he knew what the word ‘love’ meant, was telling him he felt the same, and it felt like a dream. Will could not believe what was happening.
For the second time this evening he saw the little boy he met in kindergarten, he saw the little boy who stood up for him against bullies, the little boy who got him into DnD, the little boy who encouraged Will to learn to draw people, the little boy who had grown up and hurt him again and again but who Will kept forgiving because no matter what happened he was still Mike, still his best friend, still the boy he loves and will love for the rest of his life whether he wants to or not.
The boy who was sitting in-front of him right now, holding up a canvas that says the three words he longed to hear from him from the moment they met.
Tears immediately fall down Will’s face as he began to sob. His hands covered his face, attempting to semi-hide the break down.
“Shit.” He heard Mike curse, his voice lanced with panic. “Will, I’m so sorry. I didn’t-“
He’s interrupted by Will jumping into his arms, hugging as tight as he possibly can. He manages to speak one word between his sobs, “Mike.” It’s muffled by the others shirt.
Will feels Mike slowly wrap his arm around him, one tangled in his brown hair and the other on his back. Will somehow senses his confusion and manages to calm down his breathing enough to utter a few words.
“I love you.”
He feels Mike tense up slightly. “What..?” He asks quietly.
Will pulls back enough to look at Mike and speaks loud enough that his words can’t be misconstrued. “I love you, Mike.” He takes a deep breath. “I’ve loved you since the day that we met on the swings in kindergarten.”
Everything goes silent. Will stares into Mike’s wide eyes and suddenly everything else disappears, nothing else exists anymore, not Vecna, not the demogorgon, not fucking Hawkins, it’s just him and Mike.
Mike begins sobbing as well but he’s got the biggest smile plastered on his face, Will copies it. The sobs slowly turn to giggles and Will rests his forehead against Mikes.
They slowly calm down as they breathe the same air.
“William Jacob Byers.” Mike says and immediately grimaces at his words. Will chuckles and Mike’s face grows soft. “William Jacob Byers, will you be my boyfriend?” He softly says.
Will’s breath hitches, he stares at Mike for a few moments before answering eagerly. “Yes, yes. Oh my god, yes.”
They both laugh a bit before going back to staring at eachother. Mike moves his hands to Wills waist and shuffles him around so that he’s straddling him. They both blush furiously at the position.
“I really wanna kiss you right now.” Mike speaks absentmindedly. He’s not even looking at Will’s eyes anymore, he’s very firmly, and very obviously, looking down at Wills lips.
“Then kiss me.”
Will barely get out the words before Mike presses their lips together.
The feeling is something Will can’t properly describe. It feels like an explosion just went off inside him and a puzzle he’s been trying to solve his entire life finally clicks into place at the same time. He feels so many emotions overcome him, happiness, sadness, surprise, disbelief, but most of all love.
At first the kiss is wonky and out of sync, but they quickly fix it, lips sliding together in perfect rhythm. Will snakes his hands up to the obsidian curls of Mike’s hair, something he’s been itching to do since Mike began growing them out. He feels Mike squeeze his hips.
The kiss grows desperate, filled with years of pain, desire, and fear all bursting out of them. They move together like they’re starving in the middle of a dessert and they haven’t eaten for weeks. They kiss like if they ever separate, they will die right then and there.
Its best first kiss Will Byers could’ve ever asked for.
Eventually they separate, both panting. They stare at each other for a bit before pressing their foreheads together.
“I love you, Will” Mike breaths.
“I love you too, Mike” Will responds, huffing out a breathy giggle.
Will feels like he just conquered the world.
Scratch that.
The world, his world, is next to him right now, panting and staring up at him like he just hung the moon.
Mike pulls back and begins peppering his face with kisses, the tip of his nose, his eyebrows, the mole above his lips, there isn’t a place on Will’s face that Mike forgets to kiss. It causes Will to laugh and squirm, even though there’s no other place he’d rather be.
If you told Will this morning that he would be taken to Castle Byers and be kissed breathless by the boy of his dreams he would’ve asked if you were okay and thought you were crazy.
But now he’s here and it’s actually happening and for once in his life, despite all the horrible things going on, Will feels like he has a place where he belongs.
As long as he’s here, with the love of his life, he’ll be fine.