Chapter Text
Spring, 1991.
Will Byers had just gotten out of his last class for the day. It was sometimes exhausting being an art student at Parsons but he felt lucky to be there, he couldn’t really complain.
After all, how many small-town kids actually got to make it to the “Big Apple”; as he and much younger Jonathan Byers used to refer to it at the time, something they had picked up from the late Bob Newby.
Even more so, how many small-town kids who’ve fought interdimensional cosmic monsters could find themselves, actually living peacefully, here in New York City?
One could say there were now three, to be exact.
Will sighs, carrying his withered portfolio as he makes his way towards his shared apartment with his boyfriend, Mike Wheeler. Despite his gratefulness to be in his position, his aching feet and slightly peeling hands were screaming otherwise.
The walk back home on Thursdays was getting to be a bit rough, considering he had two classes back-to-back and a 4 hour studio session.
But all of that had changed this past summer, when Mike had decided he was fed up with not being able to see Will all the time like they had grown accustomed to growing up.
They had already gone through this once, when Will had moved to California. Mike had thought that he had almost lost him. His Will. And the thought of possibly losing him again to the distance made him shudder.
Mike tried to be reasonable at first. He thought, I can't possibly leave school to follow a boy, right? But this wasn't just any boy, and letters and emails just weren't enough. To actually hear Will’s voice or his laugh, or his bunny like teeth that Mike had always loved so much– that was what he craved. What he needed. All the time.
One sleepy phone call from a freshman year Will Byers whining about missing his boyfriend and wanting to hold him, wanting to touch him, kiss him– and Mike was officially a goner.
He sent in a letter to his dean at Northwestern, packed his bags, and moved into Will’s apartment over the summer before the next fall semester had started. With the help of Jonathan, Nancy, Joyce, and a begrudging Hopper, of course.
The apartment was small and maybe, just maybe, carried a tiny odor from the sewage pipes in their building, but that didn't matter.
It was theirs. Will and Mike’s. Mike and Will’s.
And that was more than enough for the both of them.
But of course, like how most things go in Will’s world, his life had gotten more complicated. Because of Will’s intense sophomore schedule, that did not let up, Mike would opt to take a gap year to help out around the apartment.
Lightening the load of learning how to be an adult for the first time and also pursuing a degree. He’d pick up odd tutoring gigs while working on his transfer application for NYU’s English Department that would make him eligible for the next fall. And that would be that.
Of course, Will didn’t let this happen without worrying to death first.
“Are you absolutely sure? Won’t this be… too much for you? I don't know… You're giving up a lot to be here with me,” grumbled a frowning Will, staring down at their dusty green rug while they sat on their couch.
“I’m not giving up anything. College will still be here in a year, Will. It’s really okay.” Mike made a grab for Will’s tense shoulder blade and massaged it gently, smiling at him. Will’s lips parted but his frown remained intact.
“Hey.” Mike cooed as he shifted closer to Will on the couch, grabbing Will’s legs with his other hand and bringing them to lay across his own. Mike couldn't help fighting back his growing smile at his boyfriend’s selflessness. How lucky could he be?
“As long as I’m with you, and you're happy, then we're good. I don't need anything else. Alright?”
“Okay.” Will smiled, moving closer to Mike and grabbing his hand, squeezing it tight and letting out a breath.
“You sure it’s really okay?”
“No.”
What. Will thought. Furrowing his eyebrows.
Mike tilted his head playfully.
“Of course I am.” Mike laughed, then maneuvered their arms a bit so he could kiss Will’s cheek. A slow, deliberate kiss.
“I love you. You go? I go.”