Chapter Text
Little backstory, this is in between season 5 and season 4 during those 18 months possibly? Can be taken that way if you’d like. El and Mike are already broken up or rather she dumped him, though they’re on good terms. Monsters/Vecna aren’t super relevant though they still exist in this au
Chapter song: A night like this by The Cure
Mike shifted in the car seat. Either leg pressed uncomfortably against both Will and Nancy. “How much longer?” He said, leaning forward in his seat.
“Another couple minutes” Ms Wheeler replied, tapping her fingers on the steering wheel.
He gazed out the window, trees lined the gravel road on either side.
Will doodled on his hands with a pen, nearly complete the mural of ink stretching from his left hand up his forearm. Mike had been watching him as he did this the entire ride.
Finally, the car pulled into a small driveway, rumbling to a stop. The sun had already set by the time they arrived.
Quickly the family poured out of the car, towards the cabin. Will paused looking up at the sky. The absence of clouds revealed a swirl of blue and black sprinkled with stars.
A week long trip, some family ritual of the Wheelers. This year they brought along Jonathan and Will, giving Joyce a much deserved break.
Mr Wheeler huffed in annoyance about the trail of snowy footprints left on the floor by Holly as they all made their ways into their rooms to begin unpacking.
Mike threw his stuff onto the couch with a thud as Will stood awkwardly in the doorframe.
“You’re sure you’re okay with the couch cause I really don’t mind-“ Mike cut him off, “Yeah, I’m sure.” He flopped onto the couch, the rusty springs of the cushion squeaking beneath him.
Will was sure the bed was large enough for the both of them, it being a double. In fact Ms Wheeler even suggested they shared. This idea was quickly shot down by Mr Wheeler, “teenage boys shouldn’t share a bed” he mumbled something along those lines
The room was small, the bed, an old couch, closet, and a shelf scattered with old books and puzzles.
⟢
The room was dimly lit by a flickering lightbulb on the ceiling. Mike laid on his back flipping through a comic. The room was mostly silent except for the muffled sound of Bowie through Will’s headphones and the scratch of pencil on paper.
“Will” Mike whispered to no response “Will!” he repeated, louder. Will flinched snapping out of his focus, looking back at him. “What’re you drawing?” He asked, closing his comic.
“It’s just a sketch.” Will replied, turning the paper out of sight from Mike. “Oh come on, let me see!” He teased
He flopped onto the bed next to Will. Their legs brushing against one another.
Their entire life they’d been comfortable with sitting so close or lightly touching but as of recently it felt different. There seemed to be an awkward tension between them that both were too afraid to address.
He tried to shield his drawing from Mike’s view but it was too late. Mike reached over him, invading his space and snatching the paper “Holy shit, is- is that me?” Mike said surprised, holding it out in front of him
He hadn’t seen any of Will’s work since the painting in California, which still happened to be kept safely in his desk drawer.
The art was a quick sketch of Mike as he was before, comic in hand, relaxed on the couch. “This is really good!” his brows furrowed in disbelief.
He took notice of every detail, the faintest of freckles scattered across his cheeks, his messy dark hair, the way the light casted shadows on his face.
For such a quick sketch Will had captured so much. He could draw Mike with his eyes closed if he wanted.
Will snatched the sketch back from his hands “it’s not done though.” He said setting it aside
“Well you better finish it.” Mike replied “I don’t have anything to reference” without a word Mike got up and laid back down on the couch, opening back up his comic to pose for Will. He softly laughed at Mike’s persistence and happily continued to draw him.
After a bit Mike felt his eyelids getting heavy, he dropped the comic onto his stomach, letting himself rest. Will continued to finish his art, feeling himself growing tired as well.
As it got later the temperature in the room dropped. Will changed out of his jeans, the cold air hitting his bare legs.
He absolutely hated the cold. It felt threatening, like he was a vessel for vecna whenever his body temperature got low. There was always the fear he’d come back, following him around where ever he went though he felt safer in the room with Mike. In fact he always felt safer with Mike but there was a small part of him yelling for depending so much on him.
⟢
He stepped out into the hall. Everyone was already in bed and the cabin was dark. He found his way to the bathroom, nearly entering Mr and Ms Wheeler’s room on accident.
He turned on the sink, the cold water hit his ink covered hands, turning a translucent black. He scrubbed an hours worth of doodling until the water ran clear and all that was left were faint lines.
Once back in the room he saw Mike still asleep, his legs now tucked awkwardly against to his stomach, hands wrapped around himself.
Will caught himself staring at Mike like this, his dark hair a mess against the couch cushion, his shirt riding up ever so slightly, revealing a sliver of skin. He was so beautiful.
The guilt set in. He shouldn’t be staring at his ‘best friend’ like that.
Will knew he was in love with Michael. He’s known since he was at least 13. No matter how hard he tried to push down those thoughts there was no denying it, he was in love with him and there was nothing he could do about it but pray it goes away. He’d certainly never tell anyone. It was the one secret not even his closest friends or his brother for that matter knew.
Mike had fallen asleep in the same t-shirt and jeans he’d been wearing all day. He must’ve been freezing sleeping without a blanket Will thought. He grabbed the blanket folded on the edge of his bed and draped it over him, careful not to wake him up.
Will got into bed himself after flicking off the light switch. The room was pitch black and completely silent. He was used to the buzz of a space heater and light peeking through the blinds. It felt both comforting and disturbing laying there in the dark.