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Mike grimaces, sloshing back another gulp of cheap beer as bass-boosted music pounds in his ears. A dull ache thrumbs throughout his head, seeming to be aggressively throwing itself into his skull, matching the beat of his heart. His eyes dart around the room, his hand free of a beer can rubbing at his temple as he squints around the dimly lit area.
Mike can definitely say, with full certainty, that this was a bad idea.
Ever since the end of the war with the Upside down, Hawkins has been trying to exist normally once more. Houses were rebuilt, roads were patched, the high school reopened, and society moved on from the disastrous "earthquake" that had left such a gaping hole in the town of Hawkins. (Literally).
Maybe it was easier for other teenagers to go back to school, laugh with friends, attend parties, do homework, and whatever shit it was that teenagers did. For the party, such was not the case.
The war that had been looming over their heads like a scythe, threatening to sweep down upon them, had happened. They had defeated Vecna and were finally safe. It was over.
But really, it wasn't. Micheal Wheeler is 16 now, months after everything has had its grand finale, and he still can't help but feel like everything will crash and burn. Everybody feels it. Whenever a light flickers and the group flinches, or when a cold breeze sweeps through and Wills eyes widen. They'd heard the words "It's over" only for it to, in fact, not be over, so many times that it feels completely terrifying to move on. To lower these defenses and actnormal.
Some of the party members have managed to do it better than others.
Dustin was able to pick up the textbook and drown himself in his studies, although you could tell he was still grieving Eddie. Mike was too.
Eleven was able to pick herself up, able to tell Mike that she knew he loved her, just not like that. She was able to start finding who she was outside of Mike and had managed to find a passion for reading and, surprisingly, school.
Even Max who had been horribly injured by Vecna had found herself struggling for "normal", whatever that was. She had done the physical therapy needed, and although her vision remained completely gone, she was able to walk with the help of crutches and was now focused on learning how to adapt. Lucas sat by her side through it all, helping her in any way possible.
And then, somehow, Will was also able to move on. William Byers, the boy who had been dragged into a death match with Vecna. Who had been through more than Mike could ever imagine. Even he was able to get up and be brave. Able to move forwards. He was able to pick up his paintbrush and do homework and help Joyce at the store and also, able to talk to Mike and forgive him.
Mike, after everything, felt so completely lost. Eleven had left him - even though he knew she was right - the war was over, and now he didn't know what to do with himself. He had built up this sense of being a "protector". This need to stand and help and support his friends. Now, nobody needed his help and god, Mike had never been faced with this idea of needing to find who he was outside of his friends.
He managed to do this to an extent. He stepped outside of everything, gained a new perspective, and came to many conclusions.
Number 1. He had no idea who he was, and to find that, he'd have to step back from a lot of things and talk to people. Actually talk.
Number 2. Okay, so maybe, he was also traumatized from the Upside Down. Of course, he never had to face the horrors Will, Eleven or Max did. He never got kidnapped, experiemented on or injured, but he did have to face his friends constantly being taken. He had to sit by and watch everything happen, completely powerless and unable to stop. He watched as Wills body was dragged out of the quarry and thought he was dead and he had to watch as time and time again Eleven was attacked and hurt and he couldn't do anything. That sense of being powerless- it fucked Mike up.
Number 3. To add, maybe his lack of self-esteem made him blind to the fact that he also experienced something difficult.
Number 4. He had treated Eleven horribly and needed to apologize and maybe supply her with free eggos for life.
And of course,
Number 5. He's madly in love with Will Byers.
All quite - helpful(?) discoveries. He doesn't know exactly how to describe them all, although the last one was quite the thing to conclude on.
And yet, the most shocking part was how easy it was to accept.
Mikes first thought once reaching such a conclusion was, "Obviously". His second was lost somewhere in the bike ride to Will's house where he found himself pedalling towards at two in the morning.
It was just so extremely obvious, because who else would it be? The epiphany just cleared up what had been muddied, wiped the blurry lines clean, and showed him how far Mike and Will had been over that line of friendship. Mike had been so extremely oblivious.
Maybe the oblivion a side affect of growing up with theses feelings. Ever since they first met, Mike had been drawn to Will. He'd always felt himself floating towards Will, brushing their shoulders together, holding hands, hugging. He'd always felt this love for him. It was never a question of "Is this normal?" because for them, it was.
And when Mike found himself missing holding Will's hand when they grew up to realize they weren't supposed to be so close, he blamed it on his hatred of change. And when his eyes dropped to Wills lips, tracing the movements as Will spoke to Dustin or Lucas, entranced at the way his teeth sunk into the skin in between sentences, he blamed it spacing out (A really bad excuse, looking back on it. "Oh, me staring at Will? His lips specifically? Just found my eyes wandering and then became so deeply absorbed in my own thoughts that I kept staring at my best friends lips. Definitely wasn't, like, thinking about his lips in any way. Of course not. That'd be weird". Definitely one of his worst excuses).
Anyways, a lot had happened since Vecna, and somehow it had lead to Dustin, Mike and Will being dragged to a party by Lucas. The details are fuzzy, but Mike swears he heard Lucas promise not to abandon them for his basketball friends, although he’s nowhere to be seen, so maybe Mike heard wrong. Or maybe Lucas is a little liar.
Mike pushes himself from the wall he'd been leaning on, glancing around the room with blurry vision.
He feels fuzzy and somewhat nauseous, half-listening to some redhead girl he'd been conversing with about horror movies- or something, and half-listening to the music being blared throughout the crowded living room.
He nodds along to something she says, eyes finally coming to a stop as they land on his target.
Will stands near the sliding doors into the backyard, body turned as he smiles up at some guy he's talking to. Mike finds himself staring, lips parted at the sight of Will, even though they stood together nearly 5 minutes earlier before Will opted to go grab some water for Mike. It feels as if it's been much longer, and really, who can blame Mike for staring?
Will stands in a pair of brown chinos, a simple band t-shirt tucked into the waist with a cream-coloured, short-sleeve button up draped overtop, tight around his shoulders. Mike feels the urge to place his hands on them - his shoulders. A very strong urge. His hair is swept back from his forehead, face both sharp whilst simultaneously soft beneath the dim lighting. He feels the even stronger urge to place his lips against Wills forehead - or his cheeks, or really anywhere. Mikes not picky.
And then, Mikes gaze drifts towards the figure Will is talking to. A tall guy with short-cropped blonde hair and simple clothing, leaning against the wall beside him. He smiles, charmingly it seems, before proceeding to place a hand on Wills shoulder. Mike can feel the douche-bagginess radiating across the room. He can smell it - although then again, that may be the sweat and beer and weed. Who knows at this point?
Nonetheless, Mike knows this guy is up to not good. And it’s not because he just placed a hand on Wills shoulder where Mike wishes he was holding and it’s definitely not because of the alcohol flowing through his vains. It’s because Mike is a wonderful judge of character, and his judgment currently, is douch bag.
Mike walks towards Will, which is awfully rude as the redhead girl is mid-sentence speaking to Mike, but he can't be bothered with alcohol in his system and the sight of Will talking to someone who, if Mike sees correctly, isn't him.
And so, Mike stalks off across the room, dodging teenagers left and right whilst bumping into a few others.
Mike finally makes it towards Will, swinging and arm over the shorter boys shoulders. Will jumps slightly before looking up at Mike, realizing it's him, and relaxing into the touch.
Mike can feel the stupid grin that slaps itself across his face.
"Mike." Will greets, turning towards the blonde who now looks up at Mike, expression still charmingly kind. "This is Fabian. Fabian, this is Mike." Will introduces them to each other, motioning in the direction of this "Fabian". What a stupid name.
"Sick, nice to meet you. Wills told me about you." Fabian says.
Mike cocks and eyebrow at this, looking down at Will.
Who is this guy? and You 'told him about me'? his expression questions.
Will greets him with the own cock of his eyebrow.
Behave Mike.
"Fabians in my art class. He goes to Hawkins High too." Will hands over the information to Mike.
Mike nods stupidly, glancing back to Fabian. Fabian stands with his arms crossed, shoulder pressed into the wall alongside his right foot. He glances between Will and Mike, and Mike swears he sees some sort of smugness there.
"Cool, yeah. Uh, Will-" Mike trails off for a moment, pointedly looking at Will "I need your help, with- something."
Will nods, shifting underneath Mikes arm. "Oh, sure, okay." He looks towards Fabian.
"Was nice seeing you. See you Monday?" Will says politely in which Fabian nods.
"Nice seeing you too. Yeah."
With that, Mike pulls his arm from Wills shoulders, instead wrapping his fingers delicately around Wills wrist. He sets off across the living room, grip tightening around Wills wrist as they make their way through the floor of bodies and towards the staircase.
Upstairs the music is quieter, muffled through the walls and floor. Mike opens the first door he sees, grateful to see it's an empty bathroom. He flips the lightswitch on, tugging Will into the room behind him. Will walks further into the bathroom as Mike closes the door.
"Mike, what is it-" Mike cuts him off, pushing his lips against Wills.
Oh yeah, he forgot to mention, he can do that now.
Once Will has gotten over the initial shock of Mike throwing himself at him, he quicky reciprocates. Will kisses back just as furiously, pushing his fingers into Mikes hair, tugging at the curls. Mike pushes his body against Will's, desperate to remove any space between them, hands making their way beneath Wills shirt to hold his waist. Will lets out the softest of gasps at the contact which causes Mikes fingers to curl harder against the skin, nails digging in ever-so-slightly.
Mike tastes the minty taste of the lip chap Will always uses, mixed with the bitter tang of cheap beer - which should be gross, and it probably is, but Mike can't be bothered when he feels Will bite at his lip before smoothing over it with a lick of his tongue. Mike lets out an embarrassing noise which only seems to make Will kiss him harder. Mike can't say he minds. He can't say that at all.
Mike revels in the way Wills hand moves down to his chest, pulling him closer by the shirt as his other hand makes a fist in Mikes hair. He revels in the way Will pulls and pulls and pulls until he can't anymore. He revels in the sound Will makes as his tailbone makes contact with the counter.
Mike hoists Will up onto the counter, allowing them to separate slightly to breath. He looks up at Will, out of breath and kissed stupid; face flushed and lips raw.
Mike places a kiss against Wills lips again; this time soft and quick, before placing another one against the corner of his mouth. He kisses along Wills jaw before placing messy, open-mouthed kisses against Wills neck. And holy shit, Will whimpers which should definitely be placed upon then highest of sins because God.
"Mike." Will whispers breathily, fingers tightening around Mikes hair as Mike sucks at the skin above his collar-bone.
"Mike." He tries once more.
Mike pulls back slightly, muttering against Wills jaw, "Uh-huh?".
"You're drunk and we're in a random persons bathroom." Will mutters, although his hands in Mikes hair and against his waist don't move.
Mike kisses his jaw. "I'm hardly drunk." He says, which isn't exactly truthful. He's not quite shit-faced, but he's definitely not sober.
Will huffs out a laugh and Mike lets his head fall to rest on Wills shoulder.
Wills hand moves from his hair to his back, holding him close.
"What's sparked this sudden... affection?" Will questions, neck shifting as he places his head on Mikes shoulder, rubbing Mikes back with gentle hands.
Mike mumbles something incoherent into Will's shoulder before lifting his head slightly to speak.
"There doesn't have to be a reason for me to want to kiss my boyfriend, does there?" He asks, the word 'boyfriend' soft in his mouth, rolling out with the taste of clementine and flowers and funnel cakes - everything sweet and precious. Mike truly never thought he'd be able to call Will his boyfriend, but God, when he does he feels the most mushy, syrupy sensation as the word flows from his mouth, smooth like honey. He feels the ridiculous urge to giggle like a school girl and kick his feet. This sense of "Will is mine and I am his" is euphoric.
Will continues tracing along Mikes back with his thumb, letting out a soft hum of concurring.
"Sure, but, well- we are in a public place, at a party?" He speaks before adding, "Not that I mind all that much."
Mike snorts, "It definitely didn't seem like you minded."
"Dickhead."
"You love it."
"Hmm." Will makes a noise of contemplation before deciding on, "Maybe."
Mike pulls back to look Will in the eyes, biting down the playful smile that rests on his face.
"You love me."
Will grins, eyes twinkling with affection.
"Yeah- yeah, I do." He says, breathlessly, tucking a strand of Mikes hair behind his ear, and Mike melts. He has to take a deep breath, smile stretching so wide and cheeks becoming so insanely warm he swears he's suddenly caught a fever.
Mike surges forward, placing his lips against Wills, cupping his cheek with a hand. The kiss is soft and sweet, Wills hand cupping the nape of Mikes neck as Mike lovingly strokes Wills cheek with his thumb.
Mike can't help but smile into the kiss, feeling as instantly Will smiles too and they're forced to disconnect.
Mike continues cupping Wills cheek, eyes jumping from Wills eyes, to his eyebrows, to his cheeks, to his nose - tracing each freckle, mole, blemish, and inch of skin possible.
"You're so soppy." Mike finally says, although his voice is breathless. Will snorts, pushing his head into Mikes shoulder.
"It's your fault. You made me this way." Will mumbles into the fabric of Mikes shirt.
Mike laughs, "I take absolutely no blame for this."
He pushes a hand into Wills hair, rubbing soothing circles over his scalp.
"I love you too." He mutters, kissing the top of Wills head.
Will groans into his shoulder, "I'm the soppy one?" he says, pulling back to once more look Mike in the eyes. Mike can see the furious blush spread across Wills cheeks and neck. He loves knowing he can do this so easily. Fluster Will. It's addicting.
They stare at each other once more, Mikes moving closer, eyes dropping down to Wills lips.
The door begins opening.
In an instance Mike has flown back into the wall and Will is standing in front of the counter, both of their pairs of eyes wide and trained on the door.
Dustin pokes his head in, looking between the two with a furrowed brow, before his jaw slackens and he says, "Are you kidding me? At a house party?"
Mike looks at Will who has tilted his head to meet Mikes eyes. At eye-contact, the two Immediantly burst out laughing.
"Y-you told us to get a room?" Mike snorts, recalling the many DnD campaigns in which Dustin made such a remark, only causing Will to laugh harder.
"We just- we just did what was asked of us." Will adds between laughter, looking between Mike and Dustins unamused face.
Dustin shakes his head, "Well- I clearly didn't mean this." Dustin says, tone one of ridicule.
Dustin turns on his heel and begins to walk away.
"No! Dad, it wasn't what it looked like!" Mike calls out, breathless from laughter. He swears he can hear Dustin mutter something along the lines of 'Idiots... No self restraint.. I'm the only sane one in this goddamn group.'
Will closes the door behind Dustin, laughing fit slowing to a stop.
He turns to Mike, suppressed smile on his face. Within five seconds of eyecontact, the two burst into laughter once more, gravitating towards each other.
Mike places a hand on Wills arm, rubbing up and down as he laughs.
"Maybe no more making out in strangers bathrooms?" Will says.
Mike huffs, "I guess." he says with a smile.
Will looks up at Mike, tender smile and wide brown eyes filling Mikes vision.
"Love you." Will says quietly.
And fuck Fabian. Fuck that guy so hard, because Will is Mikes and Mike is Wills and that really doesn't seem to be a thing to change anytime soon. Right now, Will and Mike are in their own bubble and absolutely nobody can puncture it.
"I love you too." he answers.
Their pact to not make out in strangers bathrooms is forgotten almost immediately, lips sliding together once more.