Work Text:
“EL!”
“ELEVEN! NO!”
Mike’s screams ripped through the MAC-Z, with harsh, unfamiliar hands gripping at his biceps as he pulled to try and run to Eleven, who stood in the portal. Disaster erupted behind her: Items and trees were flying everywhere, and it felt weird to look at when she stood there, expressionless. He couldn’t tell if she was crying or smiling through his very own tears.
Why was she doing this? What were her reasons? He felt like she was lying when she brought him in her mind, in that pitch black, cold place.
You understand me better than anybody else, she said earlier. He definitely didn’t feel like it right now. He opposed her choice in every way he could, protesting against the soldiers. He trashed like his life depended on it, feet unmoving against the cracked asphalt. The harsh wind coming from the bright portal felt like enough to blow him away, but he couldn’t care less when Eleven was standing there, ready to end her life. He wasn’t ready. He wasn’t ready for the disaster coming after, the emptiness in his heart.
Unlike him, she was ready, and he couldn’t decide against it for her. But he couldn’t understand that right now, as his arms flailed up and down, attempting to get the soldiers’ overwhelming pressure off him.
He could hear Will, Dustin and Lucas screaming for Eleven.
He could hear the noise of the harsh wind blowing against his ears.
He could hear Hopper sobbing like he never had before.
He could hear the horrible, overwhelmingly loud noise of the frequency emitters in his ears.
And finally, he could feel even more sweat forming on his forehead and palms as he finally managed to break free from the guards’ grasp.
But it was too late.
“ELEVEN!”
Mike cried out as white filled his vision for a quiet, eerie few seconds.
…
…
“Mike.”
A softer, familiar voice echoed in his ears. Mike’s vision was blurry at first, showing him vague shapes that got more and more detailed by the second. He could see orange. A lot of it. The noise that filled his ears was the one coming from the laughing students, taking pictures with their friends and family.
“Mike?”
Finally, he focused on the figure in front of him. Like everybody else, he was wearing that orange cap and gown, which, honestly— looked pretty embarrassing. But it was Will, who comforted him with that soft tone that could probably lull him to sleep, it was Will, who still looked like an angel while wearing the most embarrassing outfit known to mankind.
“Will?” Mike turned, barely resisting a flinch. His vision was fully clear, he realized as his eyes almost bore holes into Will’s.
Soon, Lucas made his presence clear by clearing his throat as he stood next to Mike, also wearing that stupid cap and gown. Dustin was next, and this time, he didn’t wear the orange dress. Instead, that same familiar Hellfire Club shirt covered his chest. Only it was sewed back together after bullies ripped through it countless times years ago. When Eleven was still alive, hiding with Hopper.
“You were spacing out.” Will crossed his arms. “Again.” Dustin added, then sighed. “You know what? We’ll yell at you later. We graduated!” A smile crawled on his face as he exclaimed, with one hand on Mike’s shoulder, and the other on Lucas’. They definitely had less patience compared to Will when it came to Mike’s.. habit of spacing out.
“We did?” Lucas joked, inching closer to the group.
“I didn’t realize, Mr. Valedictorian.” Max added onto the joke as she approached, fingers pinching the hem of her gown as she bowed down like one of those little girls in the 15th century. It was funny to look at, with her wavy, long hair over her shoulder.
Dustin looked offended. “You’re just jealous.” The smile that crawled on his face once again proved otherwise. Max stuck her tongue out, joining the circle. More laughter erupted at that, but it eventually stopped when someone else spoke.
“..Hey.” Mike started, turning to Dustin once again. Will expectantly looked at him, with those same eyes that could easily be turned into heart ones in a cartoon. “What you did there, it was..” He stuttered, trying to find the right words.
“..Amazing.” Will tilted his head to look at Dustin. “You- you gave the principal the middle finger? Seriously?” He continued with a smile so wide his cheeks hurt.
“You’re crazy, man.” Lucas added with a smirk, playfully punching Dustin’s shoulder. “What are they gonna do? Expel me?”
Max snorted. “Oh my god. You have officially lost it, Dustin Henderson.”
As the group erupted in laughter, Mike’s panic gradually disappeared, and was replaced by pure happiness, for once.
For once, he wasn’t thinking about Eleven.
For once, the overwhelming guilt wasn’t weighing him down.
For once, he was actually laughing with his best friends. (But somethin— someone was missing. Always.)
And for once, a girl was inviting him to a party.
“You’re talking to us?” Dustin’s laughter was interrupted, and a look of surprise crawled on his face. Mike could burst out laughing again right then and there.
“Yeah.” The girl said. She had wild, blonde curly hair that sprawled out everywhere, and she wore bright star-shaped earrings that matched with the outfit. “Your speech was really.. cool. Having you guys would be fun!”
Lucas’ eyes widened, as he turned to Max and the others for a nod of approval. “S-Sure. We’ll be there.” He smiled, the excitement from earlier still obvious on his face.
The girl smiled. “Great. I’ll see you guys!” And it was when she walked away to hang out with her friends, that the group exchanged looks once again.
“..Are we actually going?” Mike raised an eyebrow, gaze already on Will.
“‘Cause i’ve got a better idea.” He smirked, turning back to the others. They already knew what that meant.
~~~
The basement smelled faintly of dust and metal when Will started climbing up the stairs that night, while Mike was still packing his things. Lucas, Dustin and Max’s D&D books were already stacked on the bookshelf, having already left, their names stamped in colorful paint on the spines of said books. Each one of them represented their personality: for example, Max’s was littered with pink glitter. It was cute, like everyone had their own story to tell.
With the air conditioning turned up so high, the pipes rattled and hummed. Traces of Will from two years ago were still there. The table’s shoved up against the radiator so he could paint and draw comfortably, and a mattress was still pushed along the opposite wall. The couch stayed mostly untouched – a pile of blankets and a half-empty mug from last month. The only thing Mike did was put the table in the middle of the room, so the group could play D&D. He didn’t have time to move their stuff, Mike always told himself. He didn’t have the courage to say that he yearned for Will, for the feeling that he was with him, even if it wasn’t. Will was going to move to New York now, and nothing could change that.
Will was silently wiping the tears out of his eyes from Mike’s speech as he climbed up the stairs when he felt a hand wrap around his wrist.
“We need to talk.” Mike spoke before he could think. What the hell was he doing? Why would he even say this? It’s been almost two years, Will must’ve moved on.
“About what?” Will turned around, letting out a sniffle before he climbed back down the stairs. He stood at the last step, making himself a few inches taller than the other.
A few seconds passed. Will was getting more and more worried by the second, noticing the other’s panic and worry. “Mike.. Did something happen?” Then, what he’s always been afraid of.
“..Did Vecna—“
“No! He’s gone. Don’t worry.”
Mike’s cheeks were red by now. He avoided eye contact, and instead looked down at his hands. He pulled at the bruises and scars on them, silently reminding himself of El through this. She would’ve encouraged him. She would’ve been a little confused, sure, but she still would’ve helped him through it. Even after they broke up. After they fell out of love.
“I– you.. I talked to Robin. The other day.” Will was now leaning against the wall. “And.. she made me realize stuff. Stuff i couldn’t have realized by myself.”
“Like?” Will was intrigued now. He didn’t realize the two had bonded that much over the past year. In fact, he noticed the opposite: up until ‘87, Mike was always giving Robin those dirty looks from afar whenever he talked to her. Like she was taking something from him. It was weird, but he decided to keep quiet. After all, it wasn’t unusual for people this different to come together anymore. Dustin and Steve, Nancy and Jonathan.. The list could go on.
Mike hesitated, once again. He couldn’t voice his thoughts. “You start noticing.. unusual stuff about someone when you like them, right?” Will tensed up. Where was this going?
“Yes, you— What’s that got to do with Robin?” “She’s the one.” Mike paused, and Will very, very obviously made a face. One he didn’t like.
“Mike.. Robin’s—“ Mike didn’t know if he could turn any redder now, but if he could, he definitely did just now. “The one that made me realize this stuff!”
He could see Will breathe out a quiet sigh of relief. “Okay— okay. Sorry for assuming. What were you saying?” It irritated him in ways he couldn’t describe. This was about them. Not.. Rockin’ Robin. As much as he loved the girl.
Mike’s mouth was left hanging, like he was trying to look for the right words. He stuttered, then ended up changing the topic. “In ‘87. What you said at The Squawk.. How’d you do that?” He paused. “How’d you manage to tell everyone about it?” What he meant to say was: How’d you manage to trust all those people with your secret? “Was it scary?” He said instead.
“..Do you want me to be honest?” Mike nodded faster than he should’ve. Will sighed and looked down too. He had to resist the urge to reach out and tilt the other’s chin up, even though that would’ve been awkward. Very. Will had a boyfriend, and it wasn’t him.
“..It was Vecna. He.. he forced me.”
“What?!” Mike’s rage was almost enough to make him grab something, anything that was close enough at throw it at the wall. Kind of like Max did earlier. The shelves were still messed up from where she had her meltdown. It was funny to think about, but Mike couldn’t bring himself to laugh. Not right now.
“When i fainted, after the experiment at The Squawk, Vecna showed me what would happen. What would happen if i told you. He showed me memories.”
Mike’s thoughts diverged to that fight in the rain. It was unbearably cold for summer time, he remembered the way Will stormed out with a disappointed scoff, he remembered the way Will practically begged him and Lucas to play D&D, and after all, he remembered what he said. It’s not my fault you don’t like girls. He didn’t realize he was mumbling that exact phrase until Will pointed it out.
“Like.. that.” He admitted, shyly. “Or- my dad. Bullies. The whole deal.”
Will cleared his throat. “And it scared me, Mike. He told me you, or— or my mom, or anyone else i know would start saying those things about me too, if not worse. He made me feel like i had a disease.”
Mike didn’t know when, but he started relating to what Will was saying. The way he felt different, the disease.. It hit way too close to home.
“Eventually, i realized it was a lie. I realized he was just scaring me. Even if it felt real. So.. real. I wanted to prov— I proved him wrong.” A smile Mike didn’t realize he was waiting for crawled on Will’s face. It was small, but it was something. Something that left butterflies in his stomach. “And.. You did nothing but show me your love. And i mean everyone. You, Jonathan, Robin..”
“..El.” Will choked out. He blinked away tears that came just by mentioning her name. Even after all this time, he still grieved her. Like Hopper. Like Mike. Like everyone. It didn’t help that she was his sister. It made everything worse.
Will continued speaking before Mike could even have the chance to spiral. “What i mean is.. You have to trust people. You have to trust them with your identity. With who you are.” He looked back up, now placing a hand on Mike’s shoulder. Even just remembering the events of that day made him sick to his stomach— but he’d do it. For Mike.
..
“I’m sorry.” Mike sniffled. His eyes were red, hands dirty with sweat. What was he sorry for? Not being there? Saying those things to him? Not realizing what he felt sooner? “For everything.”
“You don’t..” Will hesitated, foot tapping as he looked for the right words. After failing, he leaned forward and wrapped his arms around the other. It felt like a glimpse of heaven, and Mike couldn’t help but do nothing besides wrapping his arms back around him. He felt like he was floating up in space, like the moment would last forever. He was proved otherwise when Will pulled away, hands still on his shoulders. Mike’s hand was still on his back, thumb rubbing circles.
Mike was out of breath despite doing nothing, and now, tears were rolling down his cheeks. What was he supposed to say now? What was he supposed to do? Just..
“I love you.”
He said it. Mike’s heart was beating out of his chest as he let out a sniffle, waiting for something, anything from Will.
“It’s always been you, and i’m an asshole for not realizing it sooner. I was a goddamn jerk to you in Lenora and i kept venting to you about El, and i thought i loved her but i just loved the idea of being with someone i could— look normal with. I know you have a boyfriend and you’re not going to leave him for me, but i just wanted to let you know i finally realized, and i don’t know who you were talking about at The Squawk but i hope you got what you deserved because you’re just amazing and—“ He was spiraling.
“Mike.” Will was serious. Too serious for his liking. Was he getting rejected? Well, it would be reasonable after all—
His lips were on Mike’s.
“It was you.”
It happened so fast Mike could barely process it. His heart was pounding out of his damn chest, and he was pretty sure his brain hadn't caught up to what was even happening. One second they were standing a few inches apart, and then the next—Will was kissing him. And he was kissing back, and he wanted to grab him and pin him against the wall and oh God.
Will’s hands crawled up to his cheeks and he cupped his jaw like it belonged to him. Mike’s hands instantly moved to his waist, chests touching. He could feel Will’s other hand on his lower back, sending a shiver down his spine. He could do this forever, if only Will hadn’t pulled back before things could escalate. Mike was already leaning back in, but he was quick enough to clamp his hand over the other’s mouth. He found that more attractive than he should’ve.
“What i’m trying to say is.. I was talking about you. All this time.. I couldn’t get you out of my mind.” Will let out a laugh. “And i guess i still can’t.”
Mike smiled wide enough that his cheeks hurt. “If that’s the case..” His hand moved back to Will’s jaw.
“I don’t want to be your Tammy.” Will raised an eyebrow. Robin talked to him about her?
“..I want to be your Mike.”
After that, Mike’s lips crashed against Will’s again, hands roaming wherever they could. It was like they fit together like puzzle pieces. Like they were made for each other. Will tasted like everything he’d ever dreamed of, and he couldn’t get enough of it.
Soon, they were moving around the room, while Mike let out a yelp as Will pulled his hair—it sent sparks racing down his spine and left him even more dizzy, but he somehow managed to shoot a half-hearted glare in Will's direction—even if it was mostly ruined by the way his chest was still heaving.
His back hit the wall, Will’s hands on his hips. Mike tilted his head to try and shove his tongue down the other’s throat, and the access wasn’t exactly denied. Every few moments, Will pulled away to catch some air, and soon after, Mike would pull him back in for more. Laughter erupted in-between hungry kisses.
Until the realization hit him.
Mike pulled away faster than he should’ve, leaving a bittersweet taste on Will’s lips.
“What— what about Carlton?”
Will frowned at the sudden thought, hands gripping at Mike’s T-shirt like his life depended on it. What about him? He was just.. His boyfriend. Up until now, he’s always admired the boy. The way he made him laugh, the way he acted.. But now? He’d rather throw it all away if it meant he could have Mike. Carlton could never understand what he had been through. Not like Mike. He could never truly understand the cause of his nightmares. Not like Mike. He couldn’t do stuff like Mike did.
“Screw him.”
Mike barely had the time to answer before Will pulled him back in for a hungry kiss, his nose bumping into the other’s. His face was red, making him even more nervous. His hands moved to Mike’s face, before lowering to his shoulders and reaching his waist. He pulled away only for a short second to catch his breath.
For once in his life, Mike was speechless. He was just staring—wide-eyed, pulse pounding in his ears, lips still burning from the kiss. His mind was blank—only one word kept spinning in his head on loop, over and over again. Will. Like a prayer or a desperate plea. And he was so damn close. He used to dream for days like this.
That’s when it hit Mike, as his lips crashed against Will’s once again. He’s never felt like this. Not with El, not with anyone. This was different. Like he truly was in it. Like it was meant to happen. He loved it. He loved Will, the feeling of his lips on him and the way he pulled at his curly dark hair. He loved his voice, his eyes, the way he was so selfless, the list could go on forever.
“Guys, the lasagna’s—“
And suddenly, Will pulled away, almost like he was diseased.
Max stood at the bottom of the stairs, in the same spot Will stood in before he pushed Mike to the wall. Her long, red hair was sitting on her right shoulder. She had this look of pure shock on her face.
Mike made an attempt to try and seem normal, like he wasn’t just making out with his best friend. He leaned against the wall and looked down, hands running through his hair to try and make it look like Will hadn’t just pulled at it moments ago. His cheeks were still a scarlet color.
Max blinked once. Twice. “Oh my god.” She smiled, in that way that made it obvious she was thinking about how pathetic someone looked. It was irritating.
“I’ll just.. pack up your food.” Her smile widened, already starting to crawl back up the stairs.
“No!” Will stuttered, wiping his sweaty hands on his T-shirt. “We’re coming!” Mike continued, but Max was already making her way up the stairs when a certain someone bumped into her as she made her way down the stairs. Her blonde hair was tied in messy braids, likely made by someone else. Someone else her age.
“Holly! What’d i say about running down the stairs?!” Mike still looked like a tomato, but he couldn’t help but scold his little sister. “Let her be, Mike. It’s not like she’s gonna fall.” Max placed her hands on her hips as she watched the group of kids behind Holly.
“You said you were gonna be done an hour ago!” Holly ignored Mike’s scolding, and instead shared a look with Max as her initial anger directed at her brother vanished.
The group watched as the group of kids sat down in the spots they were in just a few minutes ago. Will stared as Derek leaned forward, curious about the game sitting on the table. In the meanwhile, Max was making her way up the stairs with Mike, already arguing about something he just didn’t feel like paying attention to.
Will soon followed, a hand on the wall while his gaze lingered on the group of kids. It felt like he was leaving a part of his childhood in that basement. He probably spent most of his life there, from playing D&D at 12 to arguing with his best friend and then making out with him at 18. It was almost funny. The more he thought about it, the more he realized this was the best and worst period of his life at the same time. He’s built friendships and relationships that weren’t (or were) his in the past six years, and now, he gets to let it all go for a future he didn’t want if his friends weren’t there with him. It didn’t make sense.
With a sigh, he climbed to the top of the stairs and closed the door behind him. On the way, he couldn’t help but look back, again and again. Like he was expecting something to go wrong. Like he was expecting a demogorgon to come out of nowhere exactly.
When Will reached the dining table, he instantly saw a spot in between Mike and goddamn Ted Wheeler, who was already nose-deep into a newspaper about taxes and other stuff he didn’t care much about. Rather than that, he was more interested in the argument Mike and Max were in.
“Oh my god, Max! You’re friends with my whole family! Get a life!” Mike frowned, fork in hand.
Max rolled her eyes, sharing a look with Lucas. So he had her back, huh. “What’s your problem, Wheeler?! Afraid i’m also gonna snag your mom?”
“What? No! I just—“ Mike stuttered, face turning a crimson red once again. Will found himself smiling.
“It’s not the end of the world if Max is friends with both of your sisters, Mike.” Nancy leaned on the counter across the room, legs crossed as she sipped on tea. She was still in her suit from when she had dinner at The Squawk with the rest of the crew: Robin, Steve and Jonathan. Will sometimes asked himself if Eddie would’ve joined them. He wondered what he was like, ever since Dustin started acting more and more like him. (Mike’s words)
Mike flinched at the sudden realization. “When’d you get here?! Weren’t you at Robin’s?”
“I came back like an hour ago, you dumbass.”
Max then intervened. “You would’ve noticed it if you weren’t in the basement kiss—“ The look both Will and Mike gave her made her close her mouth. Because of that, an uncomfortable silence laid over the dining room, it was so quiet that you could hear the kids’ yells and laughs from the basements, the loudest being Derek’s. Sweat formed in Will’s palms, fork still halfway to his mouth. He was desperately waiting for an icebreaker from someone. Why didn’t he say grace? Maybe God would’ve helped him by now. If he was real. Or Vecna could just take him right now. The Lord’s choice.
His prayers were answered. “So.. How was the game?” Karen asked, before shoving a piece of lasagna in her mouth.
The words came flowing for the group. “It was nice.” Dustin began. “Mike did a real good job.” Lucas continued, lasagna in his mouth. Max reprimanded him not to talk before swallowing his food.
“Only one thing, never use those fake teeth again.” Dustin leaned back against his chair, plate now empty. She ate fast. “Please.” Will added.
“What’s wrong with them?!”
“Everything!” Max rolled her eyes, while Will nodded along.
Mike gasped. “You too, Will?”
“I wouldn’t blame him.” Dustin crossed his arms with a smirk, watching the argument happen.
“Fuck you!” “Fuck you too, Wheeler.”
“Language.” Ted actually intervened for once. Will saw Lucas tilt his head, as if he was about to speak, but he was too slow as the older man’s gaze went back to reading the newspaper.
Nancy rolled her eyes, slapping the back of Mike’s head hard enough to make him yelp in pain as she stepped forward. “Can you guys stop acting like kids for like, a second?” She started taking the empty plates like her mother told her to. “You too, Max.” Her initial anger turned into a smile when her eyes met Max’s.
“See?! You’re too close with my sisters! It’s weird!” Mike frowned when he noticed Nancy’s look, and decided he would bring up the argument again for the hell of it.
“Aww, did you want me to only hang out with you guys? That’s cute.”
Multiple complaints filled up the room as the two began to argue again. It was endless: every time they met up, they’d start complaining about the smallest of things. But, if he had to be honest, Will liked it. Well, no. He liked the way it cheered him up, the way it automatically made him laugh. It was nice.
In fact, being with his friends was one of his only escapes from his thoughts. Sure, he liked painting to distract himself, but every time he painted a girl, he couldn’t help but see El in her. After all, it always brought him back to the memory of her death. Meanwhile, his friends? They were the best thing he could ever ask for. They kept him distracted and had him laughing until his cheeks hurt. They were always with him through everything: the Mind Flayer, Vecna.. And sometimes, he suspected they’d gotten tired of him and his creepy bullshit, but he was always proved wrong even just a few minutes later.
One thing was clear: He loved his friends. Romantically or platonically.