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It starts with a phone call from Lucas on a particularly cold December evening.
“I know you and Mike haven’t really been on talking terms,” he says carefully. “But I can’t imagine not having all three of you by my side.”
How could Will say no to that? Besides, was he really going to let his unresolved feelings for his (ex?) friend prevent him from becoming a groomsman at Lucas’ wedding? Doesn’t matter if he hasn't heard from Mike at all since Will left for Tisch, almost seven years ago. At first, Will had tried his best to honour their promise of staying best friends, as Mike had so eagerly reaffirmed on that radio tower. He only gave up a year later, when Mike barely returned his letters or his calls, accepting the fact that maybe Mike had changed his mind about being comfortable with Will's whole situation.
"So, what do you say?" Lucas asks, breaking Will from his thoughts.
He accepts, thanking Lucas for the chance, trying to keep the growing dread at the thought of meeting Mike again from bleeding into his voice. The previous strain in Lucas’ voice vanishes almost immediately. Will can tell he’s grinning as he relays the news to Max.
“Bring your dancing shoes, Byers!” she shouts gleefully on the other end of the line, making Will smile.
“I’ll call you with more details closer to the date,” Lucas continues excitedly. “Oh, and don’t forget to bring Carlton! He’s invited, too.”
Will’s heart drops to his stomach, although he quickly acknowledges how inevitable this all was. Lucas and Max had met Carlton a few months ago, when they visited New York for the summer. They had all gone on a picnic at Central Park, where Lucas was almost immediately charmed by Carlton’s magnetic personality. Will hadn't been surprised, had even fallen for that charismatic persona (so different from someone else he knew, but Will tries not to dwell on that). But surprisingly, Max had been less receptive.
“He seems sweet,” she had said, later that night in Will’s apartment when it was just the two of them, but Will could tell there was something she wasn’t saying in the way her eyebrows pinched together, almost imperceptibly. Will had wanted to press her, but found himself too afraid of the answer to do so.
Having Carlton at the wedding means introducing him to Mike, something that Will hadn’t thought would ever happen. The idea of it makes him feel like he can’t get enough air in his lungs.
He thanks them for the sweet gesture anyway, assures them that Carlton will be there. When they end the call, Will drops his head to his hands and tries not to have a panic attack.
***
So maybe that fateful call could be blamed for what happens next.
Or the fact that Will had returned home to find Carlton in bed with another man, a week before their flight to Chicago. He had left without saying a word, brushed aside Carlton’s desperate pleading and teary apologies, taking the subway with only the clothes on his back to Jonathan’s apartment. His brother had taken one look at him and hauled him into a tight hug, promising Will he’d take care of everything. The next day, he swung by Will’s apartment to grab some of his belongings and his already packed suitcase, warning Carlton to stop contacting Will until he’s ready to talk. Will called Lucas the next day to tell him that Carlton wasn’t going to make it, lied about a sick grandmother who needed taking care of. He didn’t want to dampen the mood, so close to the wedding.
Or maybe, Will could even blame the hotel for placing their rooms across from each other, which he discovers as he’s leaving for the bachelor party. He opens his door only to come face to face with Mike himself, looking equally stunned but no less beautiful than he was the last time Will saw him. High cheekbones, full lips, deep brown eyes. His body has filled out somewhat, a fact that is accentuated by the outfit he’s wearing: dark jeans and a navy button-up hanging open at the collar. Will hates how, even after all these years, seeing Mike still feels like coming home.
“Good to see you, man,” Mike says, always the first to recover between the two of them. He pulls Will into an awkward half-hug, the way he did all those years ago in Lenora. “Your boyfriend coming tonight?”
He asks this almost casually, his face schooled into a perfect mask of nonchalance. But Will knows him, knows him better than the back of his own hand. He sees the way Mike’s jaw clenches ever so slightly, the tense set of his shoulders.
“He’s not here,” Will replies, watching with growing confusion as the other man relaxes somewhat. Mike leans back against his door with his arms crossed, the gesture drawing attention to his lightly muscled forearms. Will tries very hard not to fixate on this.
“Oh, that’s too bad. Was looking forward to meeting him.” There’s a small smile on his lips now, but it doesn’t quite reach his eyes. “Lucas was telling me how good he is for you.”
“Do you wanna walk to the club together?” Will asks, desperate to change the subject. He tries his best not to squirm when Mike stares at him a moment longer, suppressing a sigh of relief when Mike nods and lets it go.
Despite his misgivings, the walk to the club is better than he expected. They ask after each other’s families, each other’s careers. Mike talks about the book he’s been trying to write, inspired by D&D campaigns they’ve written in the past. Will tells him about his dilemma of whether to sign with a gallery or keep his options open. By the time they reach the place, Will almost feels like he got his best friend back, the one who found him all alone on the swings and took him in.
As they head into the crowded club, he realises he’s never partied with any of his childhood friends, having missed their chance to do so on their graduation night. He spares a moment to feel anxious before the adrenaline kicks in, the blinding lights and blaring music overwhelming his senses. They find Dustin and Lucas at the bar, already half inebriated, and are immediately pulled into a tight group hug. Will feels the last of his nerves slipping away.
“Steve not coming?” Mike asks once they’ve parted.
“He’s arriving tomorrow morning,” Lucas explains, signalling the bartender for more drinks. “It’s just the OG Party tonight.”
“And you guys have some catching up to do!” Dustin grins, grabbing shot glasses from the bar and handing them over. “C’mon, bottom’s up!”
Will gives Mike a sidelong glance out of habit, warmth blooming in his chest when he sees Mike returning it. They share a grimace before downing the shot, Will’s mouth puckering automatically in an effort not to gag.
“Gross,” Mike coughs out, face scrunched in disgust. “Why can’t we just stick to beers?”
Lucas gives him a pat on the back. “I promised Max we wouldn’t be late to the Hawkins luncheon tomorrow so we don’t have all night.” He shoves two more shots their way. “C’mon, bottom’s up.”
By the fifth shot, Will’s forgotten why he was feeling nervous to begin with, letting himself be dragged onto the dance floor and swaying to the music with everyone else. The space is full of people pressed up against each other, so Will tries not to think too much about how Mike is dancing so close to him, how he could feel the heat radiating off his body. At one point, he thinks he feels Mike’s hand brushing against his waist, and he finds himself leaning back before a rush of guilt sobers him up.
“I’m gonna get some water,” he tells the others, weaving through the crowds to get to the bar. He finds a quieter corner before asking for a glass of water, gulping it down immediately
“Whoa, someone’s thirsty.”
Will startles, turning to find a taller guy about his age grinning down at him. Up close, Will can see how bright his blue eyes are and how clear his interest is written plainly across his face.
“I-I’ve got a boyfriend,” Will stammers, instinctively stepping back, stomach twisting when the guy just chuckles.
“Well,” the guy starts, clearly amused by Will’s distress, “he shouldn’t let you wander off alone, then.”
He reaches for Will’s face, fingers barely an inch away, when suddenly another hand cuts in, batting him away. Before any of them could react, Mike is pushing himself in between them, angling Will behind him. “Don’t fucking touch him.”
“Dude, chill out,” Blue eyes snaps, before shooting Will a glare. “Why didn’t you just say your boyfriend was here?”
Will waits for Mike to sputter in indignation, deny the accusation with his usual, We’re just friends. But to his surprise, Mike only continues to glare at the guy until he slinks away, muttering profanities as he goes. When he’s finally out of sight, Mike turns towards Will, eyes softening immediately.
“You good?” he asks gently, leaning closer so Will could hear him. His eyebrows are drawn together, the way they always used to whenever he was worried about Will. It’s been so long since Will’s seen that look on his face, Will feels his throat tighten.
“Yeah, just a bit tipsy,” he replies honestly, biting his lower lip. He ignores the way Mike’s eyes flicker down, tilting his head towards the crowd. “Thank you. For getting rid of him.”
Mike pauses, looking at him with an identifiable expression. “Well, I promised I’d always protect you, didn’t I?” His voice is heavy with something unspoken, and Will suddenly feels the urge to rage at him, wants to ask him where he’s been for the past few years.
Instead, he lets out a shaky laugh, nudging Mike lightly as he says, “Right, my paladin in shining armour.”
He regrets the words as soon as they leave his lips, realising belatedly how flirtatious they sounded. But his already crumbling conscience leaves him once again when he sees the way Mike’s eyes darken, pupils blowing wide. He stares back, lips slightly parted, suddenly aware of just how close they are to each other. All Will needs to do is lean forward, and—
Mike clears his throat, breaking the moment. “Do you need to head back? Dustin’s staying at Lucas’ apartment, anyway, so we don’t have to wait for them. I can bring you home.”
The words take Will back to another night, one of Halloween costumes and a quiet conversation in a basement. “No, I don’t wanna ruin Lucas’ night,” Will says eventually, with what he hopes is a reassuring smile. When Mike still looks unconvinced, he takes Mike’s arm, ignoring the way his heart hammers against his ribs, and tugs him back to the dance floor. They find Lucas and Dustin easily, and after convincing them that everything’s fine, they’re back at it again, dancing away until it becomes obvious that Lucas is far too drunk to keep going.
They steer him outside, where Mike hails a cab. Will watches as Dustin clambers in after the groom-to-be, promising loudly to get him home safely, before the car pulls away.
The walk back to their hotel is significantly more awkward, even though Mike tries to keep the conversation flowing. Will is too distracted to focus on what he’s saying, trying to dissect the whole night. When they stop in front of their respective doors, Mike hesitates, as though weighing his words. For a moment, Will thinks he might say something more.
But Mike only offers a quiet, “Good night, Will,” before turning and slipping into his room, his door closing softly behind him.
***
Will spends the next morning wondering if he’s reading things wrong again, the way he did all those years ago when his family had moved into the Wheelers’ house. But the tension between them doesn’t disappear, winding tighter with each passing day.
It’s clear later that afternoon, when Mike knocks on his door and asks if he wants to walk to the welcome luncheon together. They don’t sit together, Will opting to be with his mom and Hopper, but he can feel Mike’s gaze landing on him now and then, even as he tries to ignore it. Thankfully, he gets a break from it all that evening when Jonathan finally flies in, and the Hopper-Byers reunite over a surprisingly noisy family dinner.
But it comes back strong on the day of the wedding, when they’re gathered at the church, waiting for Max to arrive. They hadn’t arrived together, since Mike had promised to pick Holly up at her friend's place, where she was staying. So the first time Will sees Mike in a tuxedo, looking devastatingly gorgeous, he’s by the altar, laughing at something Dustin’s saying. Then Mike looks up, eyes landing on Will’s approaching figure, and his smile drops immediately, face easing back into that mask he’s perfected since high school. But his hand clench beside him, like he’s trying not to reach out, the same way Will is struggling not to do himself. At the reception, Will doesn’t even bother fighting it. Lets his traitorous eyes keep finding Mike’s across the table, holding his gaze every time it catches, heat pooling low in his stomach.
It finally comes to a head at the afterparty, when Mike corners him in the lobby bathroom, locking the door behind them. He backs Will up against the wall, and Will knows he should push him away, should tell him that he’s still a taken man. But he’s half drunk on tequila and the dangerous game they’ve been playing, and for once, he couldn’t care less.
“Jonathan told me what happened,” Mike murmurs, one large hand sliding up Will’s shoulder to rest at the nape of his neck. The feel of Mike’s fingers on his skin makes Will shiver. “Why haven’t you left him for good?”
“I don’t know,” Will admits, heart in his throat. “Give me a reason to.”
Mike’s grip tightens slightly, and Will gasps, head tilting back before he can stop himself. Mike dips down, brushing his mouth against Will’s neck, pressing open-mouthed kisses on his sensitive skin, and Will can’t stop his hips from canting forward, biting his lips so he doesn’t cry out.
“Mike,” he breathes out, pressing his hands to the other man’s chest to push him away. Ignores the way his entire body is screaming at him to pull Mike closer. “Not here. We can’t just disappear from the party. They’ll come looking.”
Mike lets out a low, frustrated noise but steps back, dragging a hand through his hair. “Later then?”
Will swallows hard, the moment stretching thin between them. His mind flits to Carlton, waiting for Will to come back to New York so he can grovel and beg for forgiveness. Carlton, who loved him, who had been there for the past few years. Carlton, who was fucking his personal assistant in their bed.
“Later,” Will says, before he can change his mind.
***
Will has always been weak when it comes to Mike, ever since they were kids. It’s the reason why he could never lie to him, why he always tried to make Mike happy, even if doing so meant breaking his own heart. So when Mike knocks a few minutes after they’ve stumbled back to their rooms, he doesn’t even hesitate before opening the door.
And he’s always been pretty self-aware, which means he knows that contrary to popular belief, he can be selfish when he wants to be. So he only spares a few seconds to feel guilty before he lets Mike drag him into a filthy kiss, lets him peel his clothes off him. Sinks to his knees and sucks Mike off, moans prettily when Mike opens him up with his fingers. Now he pushes back against Mike’s long cock, fisting the sheets underneath him as he spreads his legs wider.
“God, Will, you're so fucking tight,” Mike grits above him, slamming his hips even harder. He grabs one of Will’s arms, twisting it behind his back to use as leverage, making Will gasp wetly. “Knew you'd feel amazing around me.”
Will can only nod dumbly, a sharp moan escaping him when Mike finds that spot that sends white-hot pleasure shooting down his spine. “Mike, fuck, please.”
“Please what, baby?” Mike breathes out, slowing his thrusts so that Will can feel the slow drag of his dick stretching out his hole. Will sobs, trying to stuff all of Mike’s length back inside him, but this only makes Mike still completely. “C’mon, Will, I wanna hear you say it.”
Will gasps, head hanging low. “Please fuck me. I need it, Mike, please.”
Mike groans brokenly, bending down to rest his forehead on Will’s back. “Fuck, you’re so good for me.” He winds his arm around Will’s chest, lifting their upper bodies so that Will’s practically sitting on his lap, before he resumes a brutal pace, fucking up hard into Will. The change in angle allows him to go even deeper, until Will can feel it in his throat. He throws his head back, resting it on Mike’s shoulder, panting out Mike’s name. “Wanna ruin you for everybody else,” Mike rasps in his ear, voice cracking. “Wanna ruin you for him."
And Will wants to tell him that he already has, that there was no chance anyone could ever compete, but instead he turns and catches Mike’s lips with his, kissing him open-mouthed and filthy. Mike licks into his mouth, hand resting lightly around Will’s neck, the feeling of being owned turning Will on even more.
He lets out a pathetic whine when Mike pushes him down on the bed, pulling out so he could flip Will onto his back, looking up at Mike through tear-stained lashes. He winds his legs around Mike’s slim waist as Mike sinks back in one smooth thrust, hands reaching out to pull Mike closer. To his surprise, Mike rocks into him slowly, keeping his gaze locked on Will, brown eyes soft and unwavering.
“You’re beautiful,” he chokes out, and Will tightens around him helplessly, nails dragging down Mike’s pale back.
“Mike, please, I’m gonna—“
“Yeah, do it,” Mike says, completely wrecked. He takes Will’s leaking cock in his hand, stroking it in time with his thrusts.“I got you. Wanna see you come on my cock.”
And that’s enough for Will to fall apart with a keen, back arching as he spurts messily in between them, staining his chest and stomach white. He watches as Mike takes him all in, mouth slack, fucking him through it, until Will is whimpering from the overstimulation. “God, Will, you’re perfect,” he gasps before he bends down to bury his face in Will's neck, mumbling words against his skin that Will can’t hear. Will grips Mike’s shoulders as his hips start to lose their rhythm, whining softly when Mike finally stills, pulsing inside him.
Drained, he watches from the bed as Mike pulls out, throwing the condom away and bringing a wet towel from the bathroom. He wipes Will down slowly, almost reverently, and Will’s chest aches and aches.
“Stay with me,” he whispers, voice wet. Mike nods gently, letting himself be dragged under the covers. Gathers Will in his arms and holds him, presses a kiss on his forehead.
Will falls asleep faster than he has in years.
***
Will slips back into consciousness slowly, eyes struggling to open against the sunlight filtering through the half-opened curtains. Memories of last night come flooding in, and he turns quickly, expecting the other side to be empty and cold. Instead, he sees Mike sitting with a notebook on his lap, looking at him with knitted brows.
“You okay?” he asks, eyes wide with concern, cupping Will’s face with his hand. Will can’t help but nuzzle against the warmth of his palm.
“I thought you’d be gone,” he says, hating how vulnerable and small his voice sounds.
Mike’s thumbs slide over his cheekbone before he pulls away with a sigh. “Well, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t think about it.” He leans back against the headboard, pushing the heels of his hands against his eyes. “But now that I’ve got you, I just couldn’t let you go.”
Will exhales slowly before taking Mike’s hand away from his face, heart clenching when he’s met with Mike’s big doe eyes.“I don’t want you to,” he says softly, lacing their fingers together. “Let me go, I mean."
Mike lets out a short, bitter laugh, eyes dropping to their joined hands. “I don’t deserve you after all the shit I’ve put you through.”
“Then explain it to me,” Will says, voice trembling. Begs. “Make me understand.”
Mike swallows hard. “I was afraid,” he whispers, eyes red. “I didn’t know what to do with my feelings for you. When you came out, all I wanted was to be brave, too. But it was easier facing Vecna and the Mind Flayer than being honest with myself. And then when El—“ he falters, gasping wetly, and Will is pulling him into his arms, letting him cry against his neck. “When El was going to sacrifice herself, I couldn’t even tell her I loved her. She was going to die, and I couldn’t say it back. Because the truth was, I didn’t love her the way she deserved to be loved. The way I love you.”
Will stills at the confession, his brain barely processing the words he’s been longing to hear for so long.
“And then I felt so guilty,” Mike continues, voice muffled against Will’s skin, “so guilty that she spent her entire life with someone like me. I kept thinking that maybe if I had just lied to her, if I had just told her I loved her back, she would still be here. But I couldn't even do that, even though all I've done for the past few years was lie about how I really felt. So how could I even think about moving on when all I’ve done is ruin her life?”
Will is openly weeping now, wetting Mike’s hair with his tears, heart breaking at the thought of Mike shutting himself away in Hawkins as a penance.
“But you,” Mike says, voice cracking completely. “You deserved the world, deserved someone who could love you fully. And I knew if we stayed close, I’d just hold you back. So, as much as it killed me, I had to let you go.”
Will shakes his head, burying his face deeper into Mike’s curls.
“But God, it killed me, Will,” Mike sobs, arms tightening around him. “It killed me.”
And Will can’t stand it anymore, has to pull back just enough to crash their mouths together, trying to pour out everything he's felt for Mike from the start. They kiss until Will starts laughing through his tears, his joy spilling out uncontrollably against Mike’s lips. Because Mike loves him, loves him the way Will’s always loved him.
“Don’t go back to him,” Mike says quietly, resting his forehead against Will’s.
“I won’t,” Will promises, bumping their noses together. “But you have to stop punishing yourself, too. El wouldn’t have wanted this for you.”
Mike exhales, running his fingers through Will’s hair. “Yeah, that’s what Hopper said too,” he murmurs, thoughtful. “Besides, I’m not leaving you again. Never again.” He hesitates, not quite meeting Will’s eyes. “I can’t promise it’ll be easy, but if you’ll have me, I don't want to spend the rest of my life learning to live without you.”
Will lets out a soft, breathless sound, heart painfully full. “Crazy together, right?”
Mike’s smile is blinding as he pulls Will into his arms. “Yeah, crazy together.”