Chapter Text
I:
Will Byers was debating how much he liked not getting the shit kicked out of him.
It was Halloween night and he stood in front of the only mirror in their admittedly dated house, eying his reflection with nervous energy. He looked ridiculous. The pointed purple hat on top of his head was lopsided and barely fit him anymore, and the dark robes he’d tied on had been through too many late night DND sessions; they were drab, and the fabric was beginning to pill. His dirty sneakers ruined any cool factor the costume might have had regardless.
There was no way he was making it through this night without some asshole taking out their petty rage on him.
He sighed and slumped down onto the end of his bed, regretting having ever proposed this idea to the party. Why would they have thought dressing as their DND characters for their first big-kid party would be a good idea?
“Will, are you ready?” his mom sang, knocking eagerly on his door. “I want a picture before you kids take off!”
He stood reluctantly. “We’re not kids anymore,” he grumbled to himself. When he opened his bedroom door, he was startled to see Mike standing behind his mom.
He did not look ridiculous.
Sleek metal armor lined his chest and arms, gleaming in the yellow lamplight. A play sword that looked alarmingly realistic hung from his side. His hair was a mess, but in a cute way, as usual. His eyes were soft as they fell on Will.
“Hey!” He smiled. “You look great.”
Will knew that couldn’t be true, but he smiled back anyway; it was nice of Mike to say.
“Are Lucas and Dustin here yet?” he asked.
“No, I think they’re gonna meet us there. Steve’s giving them a ride.”
“What about us?”
The sound of keys jangling made Will look up. Nancy stood by the Byers’ front door, keys in hand and Robin by her side.
Robin grinned. “Ready, dinguses?”
“Wait, wait!” Mrs. Byers raised the family camera and shooed Will and Mike into the one corner of their living room that wasn’t cluttered with vinyl and knick knacks.
Will and Mike stood next to each other, one knight and one wise wizard. Their shoulders brushed, and Will felt heat rise in his cheeks. He hoped his hat cast enough of a shadow to hide it.
Mrs. Byers snapped a picture and they were free to go.
“Have you boys ever even been to a real party before?” Robin asked as they all crowded into Nancy’s new car. It was a baby blue color with a smooth leather interior, a gift from her parents for finishing her first year at Emerson with all A’s.
“We’ve been to parties,” Mike assured her as he tried to slide into the passenger seat. Robin yanked him up by the collar of his turtleneck and shoved him towards the backseat with Will. Mike huffed and Will tried not to take it personally.
They all situated themselves and Nancy pulled carefully out onto the road. Robin turned the radio on to some ear splitting rock song. Nancy glared at her and turned the music back off.
“Boys,” she said, eyeing them in the rearview mirror. “There are rules for this party.”
They all groaned, even Robin, though she still looked at Nancy with admiration. Robin and Nancy had both dressed in 1920’s flapper costumes, with thick black eyeliner and pouty red lips and matching strings of pearls. Robin kept pulling at hers absentmindedly, scowling when Nancy would swat her hand away.
“One, no drinking. Two, no smoking ANYTHING. Three, no going upstairs. If I see anyone going upstairs, I will drag you back down. And lastly, four. She turned into the driveway of an overflowing house and killed the engine. “If you embarrass me, I will make you regret it if it’s the last thing I do. Am I clear?”
Will nodded, then elbowed Mike in the side until he stopped rolling his eyes and nodded too.
“Fine, yes, we agree. Can we go now?” Mike yanked the car door open and slid out into the cold October air, stepping over a small pile of red plastic cups. Will straightened the point of his hat and followed him towards the party.