Archive of Our Own

A/N:

*Shoves the shitshow that is my life into a box, puts a lid on it, and sits on it*

Oh, hey y'all! Don't mind me! Just posting yet another Byler fic!

I'm really happy to share this one with you guys. It's mostly just fluff. Originally, I was going to include a lot more period-relevant queer culture but ultimately I was too assed to do all that research. Hopefully you guys still enjoy it though.

Anyway, please let me know what you think! What were your favorite parts? Favorite lines? Is anyone else enamored by Mike's perfect mix of heart and dumbassery or is it just me and Will?

“It’s not that simple, Jonathan,” Mike overheard Will’s voice say as he came in from the garage. He was supposed to come over to hang out with Will after taking Holly to swim practice at three, but the practice had gotten canceled due to a thunderstorm warning, so he’d biked over early to avoid getting caught in the incoming rain. It was fine. He could just stay with the Byers for the night. It wouldn’t be the first time he and Will had had an impromptu sleep over. He also hadn’t thought twice about walking into the house, knowing he was welcome any time, but something about the tone of Will’s voice—small, frightened—stopped him in his tracks.

He hadn’t heard Will sound like that in months, not since they’d defeated Vecna and gotten rid of the Upside Down for good.

Had something happened? Had Will gotten another vision again?

Mike took a cautious step towards the kitchen, lingering in the hallway just outside it so that he remained out of sight. Somehow he knew this wasn’t a conversation he was supposed to overhear but he couldn’t help his curiosity.

“What are you afraid will happen,” Jonathan asked.

“I’m… afraid they’ll hate me,” Will admitted.

Mike sucked in a sharp breath. Hate Will? Who could ever hate Will? 

“The others,” Will continued, “They wouldn’t understand. I know it’s not their fault, but they’ve been taught to hate people like me their entire lives. Even if they wanted to be cool with it, it’d still change things between us. They’d look at me differently. They’d stop touching me. They… They might not even want to be around me anymore. And I couldn’t handle that, Jonathan. After everything we’ve been through, I can’t lose them. Any of them.”

Will was nearly crying by this point. Mike could hear the tremulous note in his voice, and it nearly broke him.

“Hey,” Jonathan said soothingly, “Hey, listen. That wouldn’t happen. Like you said, you guys have been through so much together. You’ve literally fought monsters together, Will. They wouldn’t care that you’re…”

“Gay?”

Mike stopped breathing. Will was gay? That couldn’t be possible. Mike would know if his best friend was gay. He would have noticed something or Will would have told him. Then again, he guessed not since that’s exactly what Jonathan and Will were discussing right now.

Will didn’t trust him.

More than that, Will feared him. He feared what Mike and the others would think of him if they knew the truth. He feared that they’d hate him.

Mike’s heart squeezed painfully in his chest. It was a lot to process certainly. His first thought was that Will had to be mistaken. He couldn’t be gay. But even if he was—if he was, Mike still wouldn’t hate him. He couldn’t. He was Will.

“Yeah,” Jonathan said, “You know there’s nothing wrong with being gay, Will. We’ve talked about this. You know—”

“Yeah, I know,” Will said, letting out a sigh of frustration, “I know, but maybe they don’t. To them, gay is just an insult thrown around the schoolyard. I doubt they’ve ever seriously considered being gay as, like, a viable life choice. Not… Not that it’s much of a choice, but still. I know they’ve heard it all, and if their parents are half as homophobic as our dad—” Will made a wounded noise that Jonathan seemed to echo. “I just can’t risk it, Jonathan. It’s not worth it.”

“Not worth it?” Jonathan said incredulously, “Will, you don’t deserve to carry this around all by yourself. You don’t deserve to have to hide and lie to your best friends. You deserve to be happy.”

“Maybe people like me just don’t get to be happy,” Will snapped. There was a real, soul-crushing bitterness in his voice then, the tears and anger mixing together.

Mike was still struggling to wrap his head around the rest of it—the gay of it all—but he knew one thing for certain. That wasn’t fair. Out of everyone, Will had been through more than any of them. Out of everyone, Will deserved to be happy the most. The fact that he thought he couldn’t be almost made Mike want to cry. 

“Don’t say that,” Jonathan said, “I know it’s hard, and it isn’t fair, but who you are isn’t a curse, Will.”

“But maybe it is,” Will whispered brokenly.

“I don’t think it is,” Jonathan said, and it sounded like he was crying now too, “Will, you’re my brother. You’re one of the best people I know, one of my best friends. I love you. Nothing could ever change that.”

“I know. Thank you,” Will said wetly.

“You don’t have to thank me. It’s just the truth. And I’ll bet it’s true for more than just me too.”

“I can’t, Jonathan. Please. I can’t.”

“Okay. Okay.”

Mike could tell by the stifled sound of crying that the brothers were hugging now and he had just enough sense in him to creep away back out to the garage.

Mike stood at the edge of the garage for a long time, watching the sky, trying to process everything he’d overheard.

Will was gay.

Will was afraid to tell anyone that he was gay.

For some reason, the second fact helped Mike to get over the first much quicker, his instinct to protect and comfort his friend overriding any unease that he felt about someone he knew being a queer. Except, it wasn’t just someone he knew. It was Will, and Will was one of—no, the best person Mike had ever met. He was so kind and amazing and good. Nothing could ever be wrong about him. Mike knew that with unwavering certainty.

So, the real problem lay with the second fact—Will was afraid to tell them, afraid to tell him.

And Mike couldn’t stand that.

Will had always trusted Mike with his secrets. Mike was the one he could always confide in, and Mike felt the same about Will. The idea that Will felt the need to hide from him, to lie about such a core part of himself made Mike’s stomach roll with anxiety and self-loathing.

Even worse, Mike knew that Will was right not to trust him.

He remembered standing in a garage just like this one, rain falling down from the sky just like it was now, and those dreaded, heinous words falling from his lips.

It’s not my fault you don’t like girls!

Mike hated himself for it. He hadn’t even meant it like that, but knowing what he knew now, it must have gutted Will to hear, to have his deepest, darkest secret thrown back in his face like that during an argument—an argument that Mike had started all because Will had the audacity to want to hang out with his friends. Mike really, really hated himself.

He had to make it up to Will. He just had to. He didn’t know how yet, but he would. He’d show Will that he could be trusted with all of his secrets and that there wasn’t anything in this world that could stop them from being friends. Mike wouldn’t settle for anything less.

The door leading into the house opened with a soft creak, and Mike’s head whirled around to see Will walking down the steps, a garbage bag in hand. He looked up, seemingly startled to see Mike standing there.

“Mike? What are you doing here? It’s not even two thirty yet,” Will said, walking towards him with a furrow between his brows. Mike searched his face. It wasn’t super evident, but given that he knew what to look for, Mike could see the tell-tale signs that Will had been crying, his eyes still a little puffy and his cheeks just a little redder than usual. 

Other than that though, Will did a really good job of pretending everything was okay. Mike suddenly wondered just how many times Will had pretended to be okay and Mike had believed him.

God, he was such a terrible friend.

“Mike?” Will said, his concern growing, “Are you okay?”

“Uh, yeah. Yeah, no, I’m good,” Mike stuttered.

Will looked out at the rain skeptically before looking back at Mike. “It’s been raining for at least ten minutes, and your clothes are dry. How long have you been standing out here?”

“Not long. I mean, uh, about ten minutes. I was just watching the rain. It’s pretty,” he said, hoping that didn’t sound as lame to Will as it did to himself.

Luckily, Will seemed to accept his answer with only minimal suspicion before letting out an amused snort and shaking his head.

“You’re so weird.”

“Yeah,” Mike said, a little breathless, “I know.”

Will stared at him for a long moment, assessing him.

“I’m, uh, sorry I’m here so early!” Mike blurted out, “Holly’s practice was canceled because of the storm, and I wanted to get here before the rain hit, and I did, but maybe I shouldn’t have come. Or, I mean, I should have asked before coming over early. I shouldn’t have just assumed—”

“Mike,” Will cut him off with a warm smile, “You know you’re always welcome here.”

“Oh. Thanks.”

Will rolled his eyes, moving around Mike to throw the trash bag he’d been holding into the nearby bin, brushing his hands off as he turned around. “It’s the least I could do after you let us stay in your house for—”

Will’s words died with a sudden ‘oof’ as Mike suddenly lunged forward and wrapped his arms around Will’s waist, pulling him into a tight hug.

For a moment, Will didn’t move, clearly startled. But then he did, his arms going to wrap around Mike’s back in return, sagging a little into the hug. Mike felt proud about that, proud that Will felt comfortable with him, that he seemed to enjoy these hugs almost as much as Mike did.

Finally, Mike pulled away, dropping his arms and looking down at his shoes sheepishly, unable to meet Will’s questioning gaze.

“Um, not that I didn’t appreciate it, but what was that for?”

“Just—” Mike shrugged “—wanted to, I guess.” After a long bout of silence he added. “Um, is that… okay? Sorry. I didn’t mean to make things weird. I was just thinking about things earlier, and I’m really glad we’re friends, Will. Like so glad. Sometimes I don’t even know why you want to be friends with me because you’re so amazing and I’m—”

“You’re amazing too, Mike,” Will said, and Mike’s eyes finally snapped up to look at him. Will was smiling broadly at him, so warm and affectionate that all of Mike’s anxiety melted away. “And, for the record, you can hug me any time you like. It’s not weird. I… I like them—the hugs, I mean. They’re nice.”

“Yeah. They are.” Mike felt his face flush. 

He’d feel more embarrassed about it if Will wasn’t blushing too.

“So,” Mike said after a moment, “Do you want to go inside or…”

Will laughed, the tension between them dissipating as he waved a hand and said, “Come on.”

They spent the rest of the day holed up in Will’s bedroom, listening to music and playing cards and talking and giggling with one another. In short, it was pretty much a regular day for them, and Mike was kind of proud of himself. 

He thought it’d be weirder now that he knew that Will was gay, and while he’d been determined not to let it show, it was a lot easier than he’d thought it’d be. Despite everything, it was still Will. He was still funny and sweet. He was still Mike’s best friend. He just also happened to be attracted to guys.

It was while they were eating dinner with everyone else, however, that a new thought entered Mike’s mind. If Jonathan knew that Will was gay, did the rest of his family know too? Will hadn’t mentioned anything about being scared to tell his mom, but surely he didn’t think Mrs. Byers would ever hate him. It was clear to everyone how much she adored her son. So maybe he just didn’t think to worry about her.

What about Hopper? He and Will weren’t exactly close, but he was living with them and dating his mom. He was the closest thing Will had to a father figure. So would he tell him? And if he did, would Hopper be okay with it? Mike couldn’t be sure. It wasn’t until Hopper had let out a disgruntled, something you want to say to me, Wheeler, that Mike realized he’d been unconsciously glaring at Hopper across the table. The man had to have at least fifty pounds on him and twice the muscle mass, but Mike wouldn’t hesitate to fight him if he ever so much as thought of hurting Will.

Averting his gaze from Hopper, Mike’s eyes ended up catching on Jane who was sitting at the head of the table, digging into her mac and cheese with an absent smile on her face. She seemed a lot happier nowadays, and Mike couldn’t be sure if it was because she was no longer fighting for her life or because she was no longer trying to force a relationship with Mike. Probably some combination of the two. Mike couldn’t find it in him to be bitter about it. By the end, they’d both known that it was a long time coming. They weren’t right for each other, at least not in that way, and that was okay.

Did she know that Will was gay? They were practically brother and sister now and they’d gotten really close during the months they’d lived in Lenora. Maybe Will had told her then. It’s not like Jane had been out in society for very long. Mike doubted she’d been exposed enough to really learn about things like homophobia, so she was probably okay with it. If anything, she’d probably be confused about the idea of not being okay with it. That was a nice thought—a world where being gay wasn’t seen as weird or wrong. It made Mike smile.

Then, Mike’s eyes drifted over to Jonathan, who raised his eyebrows at him, looking extremely judgemental. Mike winced. It was probably because he’d been caught smiling at Jane, but it wasn’t like that. Everyone knew they were just friends now. God, he was making this dinner so awkward, wasn’t he? And he’d promised himself that he wouldn’t be weird.

Turning away from Jonathan, Mike looked at Will at his side, drawing him into a conversation about a new x-men comic that was coming out soon, and everything fell back into being nice again. This—talking and laughing with Will—felt like the easiest thing in the world. It felt right in a way nothing else ever had. Mike knew he had to protect it. He knew he had to prove to Will that nothing would ever change them, that they were in it together, forever.

Then, a sudden idea came to Mike.

Was it stupid? Absolutely. Maybe one of Mike’s most outrageous ideas to date. But it might just work. 

That night, Mike found himself lying in a sleeping bag on Will’s bedroom floor, the light from a nearby street lamp flooding in through the window. Will had chosen this room for exactly that reason. He couldn’t sleep well in the dark anymore. Nobody could fault him for that though, not after everything he’d been through.

The rest of the house had gone to bed about an hour ago, and Mike and Will’s conversations had started to peter out, the silences between their responses growing longer and longer the more tired they got.

It was amidst one of these long silences, that Mike decided he couldn’t wait any longer.

“Hey, Will,” he said cautiously, unable to help the way his voice faltered a little from nerves.

“Yeah?” Will said sleepily.

“I…” Mike swallowed. God, was he really going to do this? This was crazy. He had to be insane.

For Will, he told himself, You're doing this for Will.

“I need to tell you something,” Mike continued.

There was a rustling from above him as Will shifted in bed. He could tell that he’d caught his attention. Out of his periphery, he could see Will scooting to the edge so that he could peer down at Mike in the semi-darkness. 

Mike kept his eyes trained resolutely on the ceiling above him, trying to ignore the way Will’s eyes seemed to bore into the side of his face. This was really, really hard. Why was he so nervous?

“Um,” Mike fiddled with the blankets swaddled around him. “I just… um, well…”

“Mike,” Will said softly, “It’s okay. You can tell me. I won’t be mad.”

Mike furrowed his brow in confusion. Did Will already know what he was going to say? He couldn’t. That didn’t make any sense. But then, what did he think Mike was trying to say here?

“Right. I know. Or at least, I hope you won’t be mad. I don’t think you would be. But it’s… um, it’s kind of a big deal. It might change how you see me,” Mike began stiltedly.

“It won’t. We’re friends, Mike. Best friends.”

“Yeah,” Mike said wetly. He really had no idea why he was getting so choked up about this. He was only doing this for Will. “Yeah, I know. I… sorry. I don’t know why this is so hard for me to say. It’s not even like I’m actually… Jesus. What is wrong with me?”

Will made a noise of protest. “Mike, there’s nothing wrong with—”

“I’m gay.”

The silence that followed Mike’s confession was loud. It pierced his ears and drove a stake through his heart.

It wasn’t even true. Mike knew he wasn’t gay. He was only saying it in the hopes that Will would feel comfortable enough to come out to him. Then, in a couple of months from now, Mike could say he was just mistaken and everything could go back to normal.

Except, right now, in this moment, things were anything but normal.

Because Mike had just essentially come out to Will, and Will wasn’t saying anything. The chances that Will hated him right now were astronomically low given the fact that Mike knew Will himself was gay, but the silence—that god awful silence—was still eating away at him, causing him to doubt himself.

Maybe he’d heard wrong. Maybe Will wasn’t gay. Maybe he was actually extremely homophobic and he was about to kick Mike out of his house and tell all of their friends to stop hanging out with him. Maybe Mike had just ruined everything.

Mike had just ruined everything over something that wasn’t even true.

Mike shot up from the floor, taking several steps back and almost tripping over his sleeping bag in an attempt to create some distance between him and Will. His hands rose in a placating gesture, his chest heaving wildly as he tried to rectify the situation.

“Shit. Fuck. Shit. I didn’t mean that. I’m sorry, Will. I’m so sorry. I was lying. It was a joke. It wasn’t a very funny one either. I’m sorry. I don’t know why I said it. It was stupid,” Mike said frantically, “Please, just forget I said anything. I didn’t mean it. I’m not—I—please, please, don’t hate me. Please don’t tell anyone either. But please don’t hate me. Let’s just forget this and we can go back to the way things were, okay? Okay?”

“Whoa, Mike!” Will leapt from his bed, moving towards Mike who flinched back at the sudden movement. 

Will froze, his eyes wide, his hands raising in surrender. He was looking at Mike like he’d never seen him before. Mike didn’t blame him. He probably looked crazy right now. He felt crazy. 

“Mike,” Will said gently, “It’s okay. I don’t hate you. I could never hate you.”

Mike breath hitched. “I’m sorry,” he moaned, “I’m so sorry. I ruined everything and—”

“No, hey, you didn’t ruin anything. It’s okay, Mike. Just breathe.”

“Will, I’m—”

“No, just breathe,” Will said, his voice soft but firm. Mike complied, taking a deep breath in and letting it out slowly. He felt better after that but only slightly. “Come here, please?”

Mike felt himself drifting closer to Will, his eyes wide and his whole body tense. He opened his mouth to apologize again, but Will only hushed him.

“Come on. Sit down. You look like you’re going to pass out,” Will said, guiding him towards the bed without actually touching him. Mike didn’t know whether to be relieved or annoyed by this so he settled for a mixture of both.

He sat down on the bed, chewing at his lip until he felt it bleed. He was unnaturally stiff, all of his muscles clenched, but he couldn’t get them to relax.

Will sat down beside him a moment later, leaving a purposeful two feet of space between them. It was too close. It was too far.

“Mike, I’m not mad and I definitely don’t hate you. In fact, I’m really proud of you.”

Mike’s head whipped around to look at Will. “P-Proud?”

Will smiled encouragingly. “Yeah. I know that must have been really scary for you to tell me, but I’m glad you did. I’m glad you trusted me enough to tell me. And I hope you know it doesn’t change the way I feel about you. I don’t love you any less and I’m certainly not going to stop being your friend.”

Mike looked at Will with wide eyes. “Are you… Are you sure?”

“Mike. It’s okay to be gay.”

Mike felt himself tense all over again. Oh right. This was about him being gay, which he wasn’t, but now Will thought he was.

This was fine. Technically, this was all going according to plan, minus the momentary meltdown he’d just had, but Mike could get things back on track. He just needed to find the way to turn the conversation back around on Will.

“Yeah. No, I know that,” Mike said, “I have no problem with other people being gay.”

Will frowned. “So, you just have a problem with you being gay?”

“I’m not—I mean, uh… I don’t have a problem. It’s fine. It’s all fine,” Mike said, “I just think, well, with my case it’s a little different. But I would never hate someone for being gay! There’s nothing wrong with it! And—And anyone who says otherwise is wrong!”

“I know. I agree with you, Mike. You don’t have to convince me.”

“Uh, right. Yeah. Okay.” Mike settled down. “Sorry.”

“You don’t have to apologize either.”

“S—” Mike caught himself, sending Will a weak smile.

“I am sorry though,” Will said, “I shouldn’t have waited so long to respond. I freaked you out and I didn’t mean to do that. I was just surprised. I thought, well, let’s just say I thought this conversation was heading in a very different direction.”

“Really? What did you think I was going to say?”

“I thought you were about to tell me that you were getting back together with Jane,” Will said with a chuckle.

Mike balked at him. “What? Why would you think that?”

“I don’t know,” Will said, shifting around. He didn’t meet Mike’s gaze as he said, “I guess I kind of figured that you guys were forever, that this break up was just temporary and you guys would, you know, find your way back to each other again.”

“Will, me and Jane are better as friends,” Mike said emphatically, because that at least was true, “We always were. And we’re definitely not getting back together.”

“Yeah.” Will looked up and smirked. “I kind of put that together after you came out to me as gay.”

Mike’s heart stuttered in his chest. “Right.”

It still felt weird to hear Will say it out loud. It felt weird to even hear the word gay and not automatically assume that it was an insult. It was an identity—his identity, or at least he was temporarily appropriating it. Speaking of which…

“Will?”

“Yeah?”

“Um, I know this has kind of been a lot, but if… if there was anything you wanted to say to me, anything you wanted to tell me now,” Mike began. He stared at Will earnestly, hoping that Will got the message through his eyes alone. “You could.”

Will stared back at him. Mike could see a hundred thoughts fly through Will’s head. It was clear that he did have a lot he wanted to say. Then, Will’s face hardened with resolve, though still incredibly kind as he leaned forward and rested a hand on Mike’s knee.

Mike fought not to tense at the touch, but Will was so warm it almost burned. It was hard to focus on anything else. Still, he was determined to be present in this moment, to be there for Will. This was the moment that Will finally told Mike his secret.

Then, Will spoke, and suddenly all of Mike’s gearing up to be a happy and supportive friend promptly flew out the window.

“Mike, I think you have internalized homophobia.”

Mike blinked. “What?”

“It’s okay,” Will said sympathetically, “It’s no surprise given the kind of climate you grew up in. I mean, we both know Hawkins isn’t exactly the most accepting place. But that doesn’t change the fact that there is nothing wrong with you. Nothing, okay?”

“I’m sorry,” Mike said, “I’m confused. I’m not… I’m not homophobic, Will. I’m the opposite of homophobic!”

He was a little offended that Will could say that about him. The whole point of this fake coming out disaster was to prove that he wasn’t homophobic. How had it all gone so wrong?

“Mike, you just had a panic attack after coming out to me,” Will said.

“Okay, it wasn’t that bad.”

Will gave him a look. “It kind of was. And like I said, that’s okay. I get it. But you don’t have to be afraid, Mike. You don’t have to be ashamed.”

On the contrary, Mike had a lot to be ashamed of. There were a lot of things he didn’t like about himself, but none of them had to do with him being gay.

“Okay,” Mike said awkwardly, unsure how else to respond.

“Plus, there are some benefits to being gay,” Will said cheerily.

“There are?”

“Definitely. For one, you never have to worry about accidentally getting a girl pregnant.”

Mike burst out laughing. “Will!”

“What? It’s true!” Will said, laughing too.

“Okay. Yeah, sure. There is that.”

“And, if you ever go on a date, you won’t have to worry about having to pay for everything, since you’ll both be boys. You can just split everything fifty-fifty!”

Mike smiled. “Another great point. Except I don’t think I’m going to be going on dates or… sleeping with anyone for a while.”

Will flushed. “Uh, yeah. Probably not.”

“I appreciate the effort to cheer me up though.”

“That’s it!”

Mike blinked at Will, confused. “What’s it?”

“I could cheer you up! I mean, I could introduce you to gay stuff. You know, to get you more comfortable with your sexuality. You probably have never seen any positive representation. It might help for you to see that being queer is more than just the stigmas and insults that everyone throws around.”

“Introduce me to gay stuff?” Mike repeated weakly. He was sure that he was bright red with how hot his face felt. He tried not to, but he couldn’t help but think of all the ways Will and him could introduce him to being gay. He imagined Will leaning in even closer. He imagined their lips pressing against one another in the dark. He imagined—

“Not like that!” Will squeaked, “I just meant, like, we could read and listen to music and stuff!”

“Right!” Mike exclaimed. He shook his head to get rid of the lingering images. “Of course, yeah. What else could you have meant?”

“Yeah,” Will said. He drew his hand back from Mike’s knee, shoving it into his own lap. 

The two avoided looking at each other, awkward silence falling over them once again.

Finally, Mike cleared his throat. “So… what kind of music is gay music?”

Will giggled.

“What? What did I say?”

“Nothing. Just—you really are clueless about this kind of stuff, aren’t you?”

“Like you said, it’s Hawkins,” Mike grumbled. Then, he peaked at Will from under his lashes and said, “Does that mean… you know about this stuff? About being gay?”

Will looked askance. “Um, well, yeah, a bit. It was kind of hard to avoid, what with… the shit my dad said to me. I had questions about it. And my mom tried her best to… let me know that there was nothing wrong with it, that he was just…”

“A world class dick,” Mike spat. 

Will’s lips twitched. He let out a breath. “Yeah. And then I became friends with Robin who is…”

“Gay,” Mike said, just to prove he wasn’t scared of the word. 

Will shook his head. “No. I mean, yeah, sort of. I think for girls you say lesbian though, not gay.”

“Oh.”

“And there’s other sexualities too. Like, um, bisexual?”

“Bye-sexual,” Mik repeated slowly, “What is that? Does that mean you don’t find anyone attractive, so you’re just like “bye”?”

He waves his hand in a goodbye motion to demonstration. 

Will broke out into laughter again. 

“Will,” Mike whined, “Stop laughing at me. I’m serious. I’m trying to learn. You can’t just laugh at me!”

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry,” Will said through his giggles, “I swear I’m not laughing at you.”

“I mean, you sort of are,” Mike pouted. 

“No. It’s cute. Don’t be discouraged. You’re doing great,” Will assured him, and Mike felt his cheeks grow warm at the compliment. Will thought he was cute? 

Wait, why did he even care? He was getting confused. He needed to focus. 

“Bi-sexual. Like the prefix. As in two. As in you like both genders.”

“Wait, for real? That’s a thing?”

“Yeah. Totally. You know David Bowie? He’s a bisexual.”

“David Bowie? The singer?” Mike exclaimed. He had no idea. He liked David Bowie. Well, he didn’t mind his music when it came on the radio, but he’d never really thought much about the man before. 

Will nodded. “He talked about it in an interview once, I think.”

“Oh,” Mike said, trying to wrap his head around the idea. A celebrity that had actually told people that he was queer? On purpose? Wasn’t he afraid of what people might say about him, or worse, what they might do to him?

“We could listen to some of his music tomorrow,” Will offered, “That might be a good place to start.”

“Why tomorrow?”

“Mike,” Will said, smiling at him before looking over at the alarm clock on Mike’s bedside table. 

Mike looked at the large red letters and winced. It was almost two am now. He hadn’t even realized. The last time he’d looked at the clock it’d just turned midnight. 

“Okay. Yeah. Tomorrow.”

The two of them didn’t move for a long moment, both wanting to linger for one reason or another. 

Finally, Will reached over, laying his hand on Mike’s knee again. Mike looked up at him expectantly. 

“Can I…” Will bit his lip. “Would it be alright if I hugged you?”

Mike startled, his eyes widening slightly before he nodded. 

Not even a second later, Will was launching himself into Mike’s arms. 

Mike steadied them both, his arms coming to wrap around Will’s back while Will hugged his shoulders tightly. Mike leaned down, tucking his head into the crook of Will’s neck. 

The hug was comforting and warm—just like in the garage, except it felt more intimate now, sitting on Mike’s bed under the cover of night. It almost made Mike tense up, but he was just so comfortable, he couldn’t be bothered. Instead, he sunk farther into Will, letting his friend bear his weight. 

For the first time in a long time, Mike felt boneless, weightless. He felt relaxed and safe in a way he hadn’t felt in years. It was addicting. He never wanted to move, not ever again. 

Eventually though, Will started to pull back, and Mike forced himself to pull away too, dropping his arms from around Will. 

The two stared at each other, their faces a lot closer than they’d normally be. While Will was cast in shadow, Mike was facing the window which meant that the street light was shining directly on to him. For a brief moment, Mike wondered if Will was looking at him differently now that he thought Mike was gay. 

Then, Will smiled at him, the same way he had since they were five—like Mike was the coolest person he’d ever met—and Mike smiled helplessly back at him. 

“Thank you, Will,” he whispered. 

Will tilted his head. “For what?”

Mike shrugged. “I don’t know. For being such a good friend? For being you?”

Will’s smile widened. “You’re a good friend too, Mike.”

“Me? I didn’t even do anything.”

“You’re here. That’s enough for me.”

Mike gaped at Will, finding himself rendered uncharacteristically speechless. 

Will, unperturbed, gave Mike’s shoulder a soft shove. “But maybe not here-here. I do want to get some sleep tonight.”

“Are you banishing me to the floor, Byers?”

Will smirked. “Yeah. I guess I am.”

“But my liege!” Mike cried dramatically.

“Shh, people are sleeping, Mike!”

“The floor is so cold! My poor aching body cannot handle another night on such a hard, unwielding surface. Have pity, sir! Have pity!”

“Absolutely not. Floor. Now.” Will tried to come across as commanding, but he couldn’t really manage it with how wide he was grinning. 

Mik clutched his chest and fell off the bed, landing sprawled out on the floor with a dull thud. 

“You’re such an idiot,” Will’s giggles reached Mike from above. 

Mike opened one eye, squinting up at Will. “You’re not very nice.”

“Go to sleep, Mike.” Will intoned. 

Mike found his way back to his sleeping back, crawling inside and closing his eyes, a small smile he couldn’t suppress spread over his face. 

“Mike?”

Mike hummed, cracking his eyes open again. 

Will was staring down at him, laying on his side on the bed, half his face smushed into his pillow, smiling sweetly. Mike’s heart squeezed.

“Good night,” Will whispered. 

“Yeah. Sweet dreams, Will.”

The next day it was raining again, but that worked just fine for Will and Mike’s plans. They stayed holed up in Will’s room for most of the day, only escaping to steal food from the kitchen. Joyce had caught them the second time, asking what they were up to and they’d just giggled, Will calling out a coy, “nothing, mom,” as they rushed back to Will’s room. 

They sat on the edge of Will’s bed, plates of snacks and empty candy wrappers and chip bags scattered between them as they listened to music through Will’s stereo. 

Will had a rather large cassette collection that he was very proud of. He had two David Bowie albums and they listened to them in their entirety, discussing the music and lyrics. Will was always quick to point out to Mike something that could be construed as queer. It wasn’t just sexuality that Bowie explored. He also talked about the fluidity of gender. He was surprisingly explicit too, singing so frankly and openly that Mike found himself constantly on the edge of his seat, wondering what he’d say next. “Rebel, Rebel” was one that definitely stood out to him. Mike felt like a lot of it went over his head, but he liked it. He thought it was a good song. 

After that, they moved on to Queen. They giggled over songs like “I’m in Love with My Car” and “Bicycle Race”. Mike made the joke that they were just like Queen because they rode bikes all the time and the resulting laughter from Will made his chest feel fit to burst. 

Songs like “Somebody to Love”, “Leaving Home Ain’t Easy”, and “Bohemian Rhapsody” made Mike’s chest ache though. When they finished the cassette, Mike made Will play it again, and this time, when Bohemian Rhapsody came on, they both sang along, obnoxiously loud, as they jumped around Will’s room. 

“Goodbye everybody, I’ve got to go!” Mike crooned. “Gotta leave you all behind, and face the truth!” 

Will was half giggling, half singing. “Mama, ooh!”

Mike hopped up onto Will’s bed, standing on it like it was a stage as he practically screamed the lyrics, “I don’t want to die! I sometimes wish I’d never been born at all!” 

Suddenly, there was a pounding on one of the walls as Jonathan shouted, “Mike! Will! Tone it down!” 

Mike made eye contact with Will and the two of them burst out laughing. Mike fell onto the bed, laying on his back, his limbs starfished. He watched Will walk over to the stereo, turning it down a couple notches. 

“Spoil sport,” Mike grumbled, though he was still smiling. 

“I think he’s really stressed about college apps right now,” Will said, “He was practically in tears over his personal essay to NYU the other day.”

“Damn, that sucks. You would think that after saving the world getting into colleges would be the easy part.”

“Yeah. Too bad you can’t put ‘defeated a Mind Flayer’ on your high school transcripts.”

“A in Science. A in English. A in fighting supernatural entities of epic proportions,” Mike listed on his fingers with a grin. 

“And a C in Spanish.”

“Ok, fuck you!”

Will laughed. “Sorry.”

Mike rolled his eyes. “No, you’re not.”

He felt something nudge his arm and looked over to see Will scooting onto the bed. Mike moved about half a foot, feeling too lazy to give anymore than that, and Will squeezed in next to him, lying on his back as well, their arms and hips pressed against one another. 

Mike let out a shuddery exhale. 

Had hanging out with Will always felt like this? If so, Mike didn’t know what the hell he’d been doing the last three years. 

I mean what did you think, really? That we were never going to get girlfriends? That we were just going to sit in my basement and play games for the rest of our lives?

Mike winced. Oh right. 

He looked over at Will, observing his friend’s profile. Will’s eyes were closed, his expression peaceful. Mike’s eyes darted around his face, taking in all of the differences in his appearance he’d failed to appreciate before now. 

Will’s hair was longer, a little fluffier too, breaking out of the mold of his strict bowl cut so that strands of hair curled around his ears and on his forehead. His jaw was also a lot more square than it’d been when he was younger. Mike’s eyes trailed over the sharp line of it before dipping lower. Will’s head was slightly tipped back, exposing his neck and throat. He looked so vulnerable. 

Without thinking, Mike’s hand reached up, his index finger softly stroking at the skin there, following a vein from the jut of Will’s jaw down to his collarbone.

Will shivered but he didn’t pull away. 

Mike was too entranced to really think about how weird he was probably being. He brought his thumb up and swiped against the bump of Will’s throat. 

Will swallowed, and Mike’s face warmed as he felt the movement beneath his thumb. 

Mike swiped over the skin again before he shifted his hand, gently gripping the back of Will’s neck. He was all too aware of the fact that this very spot had been the root of Will’s connection to Vecna. Will had felt him there, like a predator breathing down his neck, for years. Vecna was gone now though. 

Now it was just Mike’s warm hand, blanketing Will, protecting him. 

Mike’s eyes flicked up to Will’s, suddenly nervous that he’d cross some sort of line. His heart jolted when he found Will already staring back at him. There was a strange heat in Will’s eyes. He looked like he wanted to eat Mike alive. 

Mike suddenly found it hard to breathe. His hand spasmed on Will’s neck, squeezing slightly, and Will’s eyes slammed shut, his mouth parting as he took in a sharp inhale through his nose, barely audible, except to Mike who lay only inches away. 

Mike’s heart was hammering in his chest. He felt like he’d just run a mile, which to him was like running a marathon. He couldn’t help the thought that this was wrong. He shouldn’t be doing this, certainly not with Will, his best friend. 

He should pull away. He shouldn’t be touching another boy like this. He shouldn’t want to. 

I think you have internalized homophobia.

Shit. Did he?

Mike still wasn’t sure he knew what the fuck that all meant, but if it meant being terrified of acting or having anything he did being interpreted as gay, then maybe—definitely—he had a little internalized homophobia. 

Mike breathed slowly. Then, deliberately, he squeezed Will’s neck again. He was still anxious, his stomach a flurry of nauseating movement, but he was determined not to pull away because of it. He wanted to show Will that he could handle being close to him. It wasn’t weird, not really, not when it was just the two of them. 

Later that evening, Mike had dinner with the Byers again. His mom called halfway through to tell him he had to be home by nine tonight since it was a school night. 

Mike and Will had a long, drawn out goodbye at the front door, Mike always coming up with something new to say to keep Will distracted and engaged with him. While Will was definitely engaged, hanging off of Mike’s every word with a bright smile, Mike doubted he was really distracted. There was an amused glint in his eye like he knew exactly what Mike was doing, but he didn’t stop him, didn’t interrupt, didn’t tell him to just leave already. 

Finally though, Hopper stomped into the entryway and shooed Mike off with a gruff, “Get out of my house, Wheeler. You two will see each other tomorrow.”

Mike openly rolled his eyes at Hopper before he gave Will a soft smile and waved goodbye. “See you tomorrow, Will.”

“Bye, Mike. Get home safe.”

The next day, Will practically flung himself down in his seat next to Mike during third period, and started rambling to him without any preamble. “So, I talked to Robin, and she and her friend, Vickie, are going to the drive-in on Thursday to see a re-run of Top Gun. Are you free that day? I think the screening’s at eight o'clock."

Mike blinked before he broke out into a broad grin and said, “Good morning to you too.”

Will rolled his eyes. “Morning. So, you in?”

“That depends. Did Robin ask if you wanted to come with or did you just invite the two of us yourself?”

“The second one. But Robin doesn’t mind. I really think we should go.”

Mike raised an eyebrow, amused by the almost manic energy Will was exuding right now. “Um, why?”

“Because—” Will looked around them to make sure no one was listening before he leaned in and said quietly, “Robin and Vickie aren’t really friends.”

“Oh.” Mike frowned. “So, what? You want us to play peace maker or something? Why are they even going to the movies together if they don’t like each other? Don’t tell me it’s a girl thing.”

“What? No,” Will said before leaning in even closer. Mike absentmindedly steadied Will with a hand on his elbow so he didn’t tip over his desk. “I mean, they’re not just friends.”

Mike’s eyebrows pulled together in confusion as Will stared at him with big eyes, imploring him to understand. 

“You know,” Will continued when it was clear Mike didn’t understand what he was saying, “That thing you told me about the other day. How I said I’d help… educate you? Well, Robin and Vickie are like local experts. I thought—well—I thought it might be nice to spend time with them. If anything, it might help you feel less alone, you know?”

Mike’s eyes widened. “Oh.”

Will retreated back into his seat, suddenly shy. “I mean, unless you don’t want to. Sorry. I kind of just sprung this on you. We definitely don’t have to. And even if we did, I wasn’t saying that you have to tell them anything. It’s just—I just thought…”

“Will,” Mike said gently, “Of course I want to.”

“You do?” Will said, perking up again. 

“Yeah. It sounds like fun.”

Will beamed. “Cool.”

Mike smiled. Then, an idea came to him and he leaned towards Will again. “Hey, when did you get a chance to talk to Robin anyway?”

“I, uh, might have called her last night.”

Mike raised his eyebrows in surprise. “At nine thirty at night?”

“Yeah. Sorry. I was just—um, I hadn’t talked to her in a while and I kind of already had this idea that you guys should hang out. I mean, I didn’t mention you or anything! Well, except when I said you might tag along for the movie. I also told her that you were cool and that you two should get to know each other. You know, because you’re both my friends and I think you’d get along. Because you have a lot in common. I mean, not just—you know. But also because you’re both kind of chatty and nerdy and you both have really strong opinions about movies. Like, really strong. She once went on a thirty minute rant about all of the scientific inaccuracies in Alien. And—” Will took a breath. 

Mike was really trying hard to suppress a smile. It wasn’t working. 

“Basically, we should go on Thursday. All four of us.”

“I’ll be there.”

Shortly after that, their teacher spoke up at the front of the class, but Mike couldn’t pay attention to anything for the rest of the period. 

It was like Wil’s enthusiasm was contagious. Suddenly, he was really excited for Thursday. Robin had seemed cool, from what little he’d interacted with her, and it would be good to get to know another gay person. Or wait, no. Lesbian. That’s what Will had said, right?

It would be good exposure for him, which, okay, that sounded wrong, but it was still true. Mike was determined to learn as much about queer culture as he could. For Will. So he could be a good friend to Will when he finally came out. And so he could stop being homophobic. That was definitely important too. 

Plus, Mike had always liked learning. This was just like another class. Queer 101. And he was going to ace it. 

By the time Thursday evening rolled around, Will was practically vibrating with excitement. Mike had gone home with him after school, not really seeing a point with going back to his own house if he was only going to come over a couple of hours later. He couldn’t stop smiling at the way Will bounded around the house like an over-excited deer. He hadn’t stopped talking since they’d gotten home, talking about this thing or that, exclaiming at random every once and a while, “I can’t wait for the movie tonight!”

Seeing Will like that—so happy and bright—seemed to erode some of the inner shame that’d been tacked onto Mike’s heart like grout. It was hard to imagine that he was such a terrible person when Will Byers smiled at him like that. 

Mike recalled something Will had said to him during their road trip from California, something about feeling like less of a mistake. He’d said Jane told him to say it, but looking back, Mike was sure some of it must have come from Will too. The painting was definitely all Will. That was undeniable. 

Mike felt like less of a mistake when Will smiled at him. In fact, he felt good. Really good. 

He and Will were listening to the Cure’s “Three Imaginary Boys” album when there was a knock at Will’s door.

“Yeah?” Will called from his spot on the floor. He was drawing in his sketchbook, Mike sprawled out next to him, his back against the side of Will’s bed as he read one of Will’s comics he’d picked up from the shelf. 

The door opened, and Jonathan stepped inside. He looked between the two of them with a small smile. “You know there’s a perfectly good bed you could sit on.”

“Nope. Floor’s better,” Mike said, not looking up from his book. 

“If you say so,” Jonathan said before directing his attention to Will, “I just came in here to tell you to unload the dishwasher, since I cooked breakfast earlier and—”

Will hopped up, a smile on his face as he said, “Don’t worry, Jonathan. I got it.” He directed a look back at Mike. “I’ll be right back, okay?”

Then, he was gone, bouncing out the room like someone who was running on a sugar high. Mike laughed to himself, shaking his head. 

Then, Mike realized that Jonathan was still lingering just inside the room, staring at Mike with an unreadable expression. 

“What?” Mike said defensively. 

“Will seems chipper today,” Jonathan said, his eyes narrowing slightly, “He usually hates doing the dishes. Always bitches and moans about it.”

“I know,” Mike said, “I think he’s just in a good mood. Is that a crime around here or something?”

“No, of course not,” Jonathan said before his shoulders dropped a little and he sighed, “Sorry. I didn’t mean for it to come out like that. I just wanted to say thank you.”

Mike raised his eyebrows. Will happy. Jonathan thanking him. Today really was a miracle of all miracles. 

Jonathan rolled his eyes. “Don’t give me that look. You know what I’m trying to say.”

“I don’t think I do. I didn’t do anything.”

“You’re his friend again.”

“We’ve always been friends,” Mike pointed out. 

Jonathan gave him a look. “Yeah. Uh huh.”

Mike bristled, but then he remembered California. He remembered Will saying, Yeah, well, we used to be best friends. And he knew that Jonathan was right. They might have always been friends, but Mike hadn’t always acted like it. 

Mike’s mouth tightened as he said, “We are friends. Best friends.”

Jonathan must have read some of his determination on his face because he softened, walking up to Mike and laying a hand on top of his head, ruffling his hair. “Yeah, I know that, bud.”

Mike batted his hand away with a glare. “What was that for?”

“You’re a good kid, Mike.”

“So, you decided to assault me?” Mike protested. 

Jonathan laughed. “You’re a pain in the ass too.”

“Alright. Get out of my room.”

“It’s literally not your room.”

“It is when I’m here,” Mike said petulantly, “Don’t you have some college essays to cry over?”

“Hardy har har,” Jonathan said, rolling his eyes before he raised his hands in surrender, “Alright. I’m going. If I don’t see you, enjoy the movie.”

“We will.”

“Oh!” Jonathan circled back, pulling out a folded bill from his pocket and handing it over to Mike. “And here’s this too. In case you guys want popcorn or something.”

Mike looked up at Jonathan with wide eyes. “Uh, thanks.”

Jonathan nodded, sending Mike one last smile before leaving the room. 

Mike stared at the closed door for several seconds, blinking. 

What was that all about?

Robin and Vickie picked them up at seven thirty sharp. Mike and Will piled into the back of Vickie’s car, exchanging names and greetings. 

Vickie was a skinny, freckly-faced red head. She wore large, dangly earrings and often stuttered through her sentences. She was also incredibly friendly and didn’t hesitate to rope Mike and Will into the conversation she and Robin had been having before the two got in the car. 

The ride to the drive-in went by quickly and suddenly they were pulling into a spot, Vickie nearly hitting one of the posts on the turn. 

“Oh my god, you are such a bad driver!” Robin exclaimed, laughing. 

“Like you’re any better!” Vickie shot back with a wide smile. 

“I am actually.”

“Right,” Vickie sassed, “And who was it who drove us off the road last time she was behind the wheel?”

Robin let out an open-mouthed guffaw before leaning across the car console and into Vickie’s space, a wicked grin on her face as she said, “It’s not my fault you’re so distracting.”

“Distracting,” Vickie repeated breathlessly, “Yeah.”

Suddenly, her head snapped back to look at Mike and Will in the backseat, as if just remembering that they were there. Her pale complexion did nothing to hide the ugly, bright flush that came over her face as she ducked away, tucking herself back into her seat like she wanted to evaporate into thin air.

Robin too looked just as startled, darting concerned looks between Mike and Will. Mike didn’t know why she was. She’d already come out to Will and Mike wasn’t exactly jumping down her throat right now, so she should know they didn’t have a problem with it. But maybe it was different to tell someone you were queer versus actually showing them.

Mike knew it felt different for him—to hear that Robin and Vickie were together versus actually seeing them flirt with each other. Not a bad different. Just—more real.

“Um, sh-should we go? I think the movie is going to start soon and I think I kind of want to get some popcorn from the concession stand. Or—Or you guys can’t wait here and I’ll go. It doesn’t really matter to me. I just think that if you want something, we should go now. I don’t want to be walking in front of cars during the movie because people might get mad and start honking and—”

“Hey, Vickie?”

Vickie spared a nervous glance back at Mike. “Yeah?”

“I’m gay. Just—for the record.”

That was the second time Mike had come out as gay to help a friend. Not that Vickie and him were friends yet, per se, but he already liked her. She was nice. And he didn’t like seeing her so upset, especially when there wasn’t even a problem to be had in the first place.

The whole car fell into a tense silence.

“Sorry,” Mike blurted out, “I know that was totally random, but you seemed freaked out, and I wanted you to know that there’s no reason to because I get it. Or, I guess if I’m gay then I wouldn’t get it because that means I don’t like girls like you do.” He scrunched his nose. “I mean—I just mean that it’s fine. You two. Together. Flirting.”

“Jesus Christ, Wheeler,” Robin breathed.

“No, hey, thank you for telling us, Mike,” Vickie said, shooting Robin a look.

“No, yeah, totally, dude. That’s actually, like, really amazing. I thought it was just me and Vickie and, well—” Robin cut herself off. For a second, Mike could have sworn that her eyes darted over to Will. “Anyway, glad to have you on the team, or whatever. Welcome to the club.”

Mike grimaced. “Thanks. I guess.”

Then, Robin suddenly turned to look at Will. “Wait, did you know? Wait, no, wait. Is that why you asked if you guys could tag along tonight? You knew about Mike and us two and wanted us to… what did you say, ‘bond’?” Robin made quotations around the last word.

“Uh,” Will winced, “Yeah, kind of. I told you you guys have a lot in common.”

“Aw, Vickie!” Robin cooed, turning to her girlfriend, “Little Byers set us up on a gay play date!”

“That is kind of adorable,” Vickie said, shooting Will a sweet smile, “You’re a good friend, Will.”

Will looked over at Mike, who flashed him a smile too. “I—I try.”

“So, are we getting popcorn now or what?” Mike said, pulling out a crumpled bill from his pocket, “Because Jonathan’s paying.”

“Ooh, free shit!” Robin crowed.

“I can get on board with that,” Vickie laughed.

They all piled out of the car, Robin and Vickie taking the lead while Mike and Will lagged behind.

“You know, that was really brave—what you did back there,” Will said, his shoulder bumping into Mike’s as they squeezed between two cars.

“It was nothing. I mostly just did to make Vickie and Robin feel more comfortable,” Mike said.

Will stopped suddenly, turning to face Mike with round eyes. The lights of the drive-in seemed to reflect off them, making them shine in a way that made Mike’s breath catch. “You’re…”

Will didn’t seem able to finish his sentence.

“I’m what?” Mike prompted.

Will looked away, shaking his head. Mike suddenly missed his eyes, wishing they would return to him. “Sometimes I can’t believe you’re real,” Will admitted quietly, “You always do so much for other people, then act like it means nothing. You’re just so brave. It just feels like everything comes so easily to you. I… I wish I could be more like that.”

For the first time since this all started, Mike felt something like guilt roll around in his gut. Will was talking about him like he was this selfless person, like everything just came naturally to him, when it didn’t. Nothing Mike did felt easy. And he especially didn’t deserve Will’s praise right now.

Will thought he was brave for coming out, but he wasn’t, not at all. Mike found it easy to say he was gay because he knew it was a lie. Meanwhile, Will was using Mike as a metric for which to beat himself up over just because he couldn’t do what Mike was just pretending to do.

This wasn’t what Mike had had in mind when he decided to play this game. Because that’s what it was. A game. One in which Mike was cheating, and Will had no idea.

Mike was a fraud. And Will thought he was something amazing.

“Will—”

“Hey, slow pokes, you coming?” Robin called out to them. “If you don’t hurry up, Vickie’s going to buy out all the popcorn and not share!”

Will laughed before moving to catch up with the girls again. Mike watched him go for a couple of seconds before he snapped out of whatever weird reverie he’d fallen into and jogged after them. 

Once they got their snacks and settled back into Vickie’s car, the four of them sitting across the lip of Vickie’s trunk, with Vickie squished under Robin’s arm and Will and Mike pressed shoulder to shoulder together, everything felt calm and relaxed in a way Mike couldn’t remember feeling for a long time. 

He could see it especially on Robin and Vickie’s faces, the way that they traded glances and soft smiles, the way that Robin trailed her fingers up and down Vickie’s arm absentmindedly and the way Vickie looked back at her, like Robin had hung the moon and the stars for her. It was sickly sweet. It was so unselfconscious, knowing that they were safe, shrouded in darkness, with two people who understood and accepted them completely. It made Mike’s throat go dry though he didn’t know why. 

It was also nice for Mike too—this relaxed atmosphere. Usually, he was so hyperaware of his body at all times, being a naturally anxious and awkward teen. He always noticed when he was touching someone or too far into their space. But about an hour into the movie, Mike realized that his and Will’s pinky fingers were touching where they rested on the floor of the car. He couldn’t remember when that had happened or how long they’d been like that. 

Mike looked up, observing his friend’s profile. He remembered what had happened a couple of days ago in Will’s room, the way it felt like he was seeing him for the first time. He remembered touching him and the touch feeling… right.

Mike’s hand twitched, and Will must have felt the movement against his own because he looked over at Mike, his eyebrows raising in surprise when he found Mike’s eyes already on him. 

Then, Mike’s heart stopped in his chest as Will leaned forward with a small smile on his face. 

Oh my god, what was he doing? Was he going to—

“You know if you want something, you just have to ask for it, Mike,” Will murmured into his ear. Then, he pulled back again, his smile turning into something of a smirk. 

Mike definitely wasn’t breathing. 

Then, he heard the sound of something rattling and looked down to see Will shaking a box of candy at him that’d been previously laying on the other side of him, out of Mike’s reach. 

Mike felt his breath rush out of him in a quiet huff, his breathing picking back up and his heart restarting, working overtime, it seemed, to make up for the time it’d been inert. He was pretty sure his face twitched into something of a smile as he reached over and took the proffered box from Will’s hand. 

Mike didn’t know how to tell Will that he definitely hadn’t been thinking about the candy. But then what had he been thinking?

Mike’s mind was unusually blank as he returned his attention to the screen to watch the movie. 

“Kelly McGillis is so hot,” Mike heard Vickie whisper to Robin, the two of them breaking out into quiet giggles. 

“Totally, but I think Meg Ryan’s hotter,” Robin said, before leaning even closer to her girlfriend and whispering, “You know, she kind of looks like you.”

Vickie guffawed. “She does not.”

“Okay. Maybe not exactly. But you guys have a similar vibe, you gotta admit.”

“We do not. You just think that every pretty girl looks like me,” Vickie said, shooting Robin an exasperated look. 

“You make me sound like I’m obsessed with you or something.”

“Aren’t you?” Vickie said smugly.

Robin reeled her in closer, nuzzling at her neck in a way that made Vickie giggle. 

“Stop! Stop, that tickles!” She whisper-shouted. 

“Maybe I am,” Robin said, ignoring her pleas, “What are you going to do about it, gorgeous?”

This time, the look Vickie shot Robin was far from exasperated. Mike felt like he should look away. It was weird that he was staring at them. It was weird that something about their open affection for one another made his chest ache. 

His parents had never been affectionate like that. And while Nancy had had several boyfriends, she was not the type to giggle and twirl her hair. She was practical and pragmatic, and while her affection for people was steady, it wasn’t loud. 

This was very loud. 

Robin’s eyes flicked over, catching Mike looking at them. Mike was starting to think he had a staring problem. 

For a moment, Robin looked weary, the idea of people finding her wrong or gross probably too far ingrained in her head to forget, even if she knew she was in safe company. 

Mike swallowed, wishing he could say something to defend himself, wishing he could give Robin a smile and let her know that it was okay. God, he really hoped Robin hadn’t figured out that he was homophobic. He didn’t want to be, but he couldn’t help it sometimes. This was all so new to him, but he was trying to be better. For Will. And now, for Robin and Vickie too. 

Finally, after a moment of just staring at each other, Robin’s face relaxed and she slumped forward, snuggling deeper into Vickie’s side. Then, she opened her mouth and said something that Mike had not been expecting. 

“So, Wheeler, what’s your type?”

Mike gaped. He felt Will shift beside him, but he didn’t dare to look at him. 

“W-What?”

Robin giggled. “Come on. You can be honest with us now, tell us all about all those celebrity crushes you kept hidden away in that little brain of yours. It’s Tom Cruise, isn’t it? He’s a hunk.” She looked down at Vickie. “He’s a hunk, right?” 

Vickie nodded in confirmation. 

Mike spluttered. “What? No! I don’t—Tom Cruise is not a hunk.”

Robin lifted her eyebrows. “Oh?”

“Definitely not. Hunks are, like, Casanova cowboy types. Like Indiana Jones or Han Solo. Tom Cruise is… is short and yappy. Like a—Like a little dog,” Mike finished, scrunching his nose in distaste. Perhaps he was being too harsh. He didn’t dislike Tom Cruise. He just wasn’t attractive like that. 

There was a brief pause where no one spoke, then everyone burst out laughing, making Mike’s face heat up. He pouted, crossing his arms over his chest. 

“Wow!” Robin exclaimed after she finally caught her breath, “You’ve really been holding that in a while, haven’t you?”

Mike shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe. It’s just that Nancy is kind of obsessed with him, or was, and I just don’t get it. He’s really not that good-looking.”

“Damn, Wheeler. Keep talking like that and I might have to take your gay card away from you.”

Mike’s face dropped. “What?”

“She didn’t mean it like that,” Vickie said, “It’s just a little surprising. But it’s totally okay if he isn’t your type. You don’t have to think every guy is attractive in order to be gay.”

“Yeah, and you can find people attractive without being attracted to them too,” Robin added, “Like I think Mav is a total hunk, but I’m not, like, attracted to him. Because, you know—” she gestures to the screen “—man—” she gestured to herself “—lesbian.”

“And sometimes you like both!” Vickie piped up. 

Mike turned to Will and said, “What do you think?”

“A-About what?” Will stuttered.

“Do you think Tom Cruise is attractive?”

“I—well, uh—” Will looked at them all with wide eyes. “I—I guess. I mean, not—I don’t think he’s a hunk, but he’s not, like, unattractive? Right?”

“Exactly,” Mike nodded, happy with Will’s verdict, feeling vindicated as he turned back to Robin and Vickie. “See? Will agrees with me?”

Robin rolled her eyes. “Alright, fine, but you still haven’t told us what your type is. I mean, this movie is full hot, shirtless guys. You don’t find any of them attractive?”

“Oh. I don’t—I don’t know. I guess…” Mike looked back at the big screen. 

It was the scene where Goose was sat at the piano, playing and singing. The other characters joined in too, but there was no mistaking that this was Goose’s moment. His sandy brown hair curled over his forehead, his shades slipping down to his nose, his head thrown back, carefree and happy as he belted out the tune. He looked much better than Tom Cruise. 

“Him.” Mike pointed to the screen as if any of them could be mistaken. 

“Goose?” Robin said. 

Mike nodded. 

“Why?”

Mike groaned, shooting Robin a dark look. “Are you going to question every opinion I have? I don’t know why. I’m not saying I want to marry him or anything. I just think that, um, he’s got nice hands. He’s got artist—um, musician’s hands. And it’s—it’s cool to see someone who’s good at their hobbies. Plus, not everyone can pull off a mustache, but he doesn’t look bad. I mean, it doesn’t look bad on him.”

Mike, whose eyes had slipped to his lap during the majority of his rant, looked up to gauge the others’ reactions. His eyes flickered briefly over to Will, who was staring at him like he’d grown a demogorgon tail, and quickly looked away again. 

Had that been weird to say? Was Goose the type of guy that a straight guy would say is attractive? Had he given himself away? Or did they all think there was something wrong with him?

“You’re so right!” Vickie said brightly, and Mike realized that, realistically, the silence hadn’t been that long. It still startled him to hear someone else speak. “Goose is totally the better choice. Plus, he’s a way better partner. Just look at the way he dotes on Meg!”

“Meg?” Robin snorted. 

Vickie reached back to swat at her chest. “Shut up. You’ve infected me with your Meg Ryan propaganda. Now I can only see her as Meg.”

Robin cackled. 

The rest of the night drifted away peacefully. Far sooner than Mike would have liked, the movie was over and the credits were rolling. 

Vickie stood up first, cracking her back as she stretched her arms high above her head. Then, she began gathering the scattered wrappers and empty popcorn buckets. She almost dropped one of them, her arms too full to hold everything, but Mike caught it.

“Here. I’ve got it.”

“Thanks,” Vickie said, sending him a small smile before turning to the others, “We’ll be right back. We’re just going to throw this all away.”

Vickie led the way through the rows of cars slowly packing up and beginning to pull out of their lots. 

One car, a truck full of what looked to be a pack of jocks and their girlfriends whipped around a corner way too fast, nearly running over a startled Vickie who startled back just in time. 

“Hey, watch it, assholes!” Mike shouted after the truck, giving them the finger. He turned back to Vickie, shaking his head. “Typical jocks. Think they own every place they walk into.”

“Ugh, right? I can’t believe I ever dated one of them.”

“You did?” Mike said, surprised. He hadn’t known Vickie very long but he couldn’t imagine her, with her sweet and quirky temperament, putting up with one of those mouth breathers. 

“Unfortunately,” Vickie said, rolling her eyes. “I mean, he wasn’t quite that bad. He could be gentlemanly. But he was still kind of a bonehead.”

They’d reach the dumpster at the back of the lot. Vickie tossed their trash over the edge, Mike following suit a moment later. Then, he bit his lip, thinking. 

“Hey, Vickie?” He said right as she’d turned to walk away. She turned back, tilting her head curiously. 

“Yeah, Mike?”

“Can I… ask you something?”

Vickie smiled, clearly confused. “Sure?”

“Um, it’s kind of stupid, so feel free to tell me to fuck off or whatever. I don’t… I don’t want to be… homophobic, or, um, just, yeah. If I’m being an ass, just tell me.”

For some reason, Vickie looked amused by this, crossing her arms over her chest as she said, laughing a little, “Okay.”

“Right,” Mike said, “Right, so you mentioned earlier that you’d dated a guy, that you found guys attractive. And now you’re dating Robin. Who’s…”

“Not a guy?”

“Yeah.” Mike huffed. “Sorry. I guess what I’m trying to say—what I’m trying to ask is—”

“How can I like both?” Vickie raised an eyebrow. 

“What? No. No, no, Will told me about bisexual people. Um, bisexuals? That’s when you like both—two genders—” Mike held up two fingers as if reaffirming his math before he realized how dorky that was and quickly dropped his hand again. “What I wanted to ask was how did you know you liked girls when you already liked guys? I mean, like, realistically, it would have been easier to just like guys, right?”

Vickie winced. 

“Shit! Sorry. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it to come out like that! I just meant that you’re really brave! Uh… you’re smart! For… you know, for noticing.”

“It’s kind of a hard thing to ignore,” Vickie said with a snort. “And, to be entirely honest, I found out I liked girls way before I found out I liked boys.”

“Wait, really?”

“Yeah, I guess I’m kind of an anomaly like that. People are usually way too repressed to realize they like the same sex until years later. They just ignore and suppress and then sometime around high school they get their first big gay crush and it ends in pining and heartbreak and a big badge saying “hey, you’re not straight!” So, yeah, that’s really fun. And I wasn’t exactly spared from that experience either. It just happened a lot younger for me than most.”

“Oh.”

“And you’re not wrong either. It would be easier if I just liked guys,” Vickie said, shrugging casually, but Mike could see the weight behind her eyes. Then, she looked up at him and smiled. “But I really like Robin. Like I really, really like her. And I wouldn’t be able to date her if I was fully straight, so I don’t exactly regret anything either. Love is love, and when you find it, it’s impossible to imagine giving it up, no matter how difficult things may get.”

Mike didn’t know what to say. 

Vickie was really cool. 

“Does that…make sense?” Vickie said. 

“Uh, yeah,” Mike croaked, “That’s great, Vickie. Th-Thanks.”

“Happy to help, young padawan,” Vickie giggled. 

Mike’s eyes widened. “You’ve seen Star Wars?”

Vickie scoffed. “Mike, please. I don’t live under a rock.”

She nudged his shoulder, gesturing for them to start walking back to the car. Mike moved, feeling as though he was walking through a fog. 

Everything Vickie had said was playing on repeat in his head like a broken record. 

“So,” Vickie continued awkwardly, because apparently Mike didn’t deserve a goddamn second to process anything, “Is this about your girlfriend?”

Mike whipped around, staring at her with bugged-out eyes. “What?”

“Sorry. Ex-girlfriend. You know what I mean,” Vickie said. 

“How do you know about me and Jane?”

Vickie laughed. “Okay. One thing you need to learn about girlfriends is that we love to gossip and judge people together. Not that I'm judging you!” Vickie hastened to say, “It’s just that Robin told me that you two used to be a thing. Or at least she thought you were. Everyone apparently always talked about you guys like you were soulmates, but she barely saw the two of you interact, and then, suddenly, you weren't together anymore.”

Mike winced. “Yeah, that about sums it up.”

“So, I know you said you were gay before, but do you think maybe you're having second thoughts? That you might be… bisexual?”

Mike blinked. He didn't know how to answer that question. He was straight. He liked girls exclusively.  That was the honest truth. But he couldn't exactly tell Vickie that. 

Luckily, Vickie saved him from having to answer the question. “Sorry!” she blurted out, “Sorry. Now I'm the one being an asshole. You don't have to answer that. You're, like, what? Sixteen? You don't need to have your whole identity figured out yet. I was just curious. But don't answer that. Forget I said anything. Sorry.”

“Vickie,” Mike laughed warmly, “It’s alright.”

Vickie relaxed, sending Mike a goofy grin. 

Mike turned his gaze up towards the night sky, letting out a puff of air. “Man, we’re really great at this whole heart-to-heart thing, aren't we?”

Vickie giggled. “Oh, absolutely. Totally not awkward at all.”

“Totally,” Mike said. Then, he turned, meeting Vickie’s gaze again and the two broke out into laughter. 

“Come on,” Vickie said, “Before Robin and Will send out a search party for us.”

Mike was quiet on the drive back, his head resting sleepily against the car window as Vickie and Robin fought for control over the music in the front. 

Looking across the back seat, Mike found Will in a similar position to him, his head lulled back against the window, one of his knees hiked up on the seat as he held onto it loosely. His eyes kept opening and closing in long blinks like he was right on the cusp of falling asleep. 

Will’s eyes opened again, drifting lazily over to Mike. The second they locked eyes, Will’s mouth tugged up into a dopey grin that sent Mike’s heart skittering. 

Mike felt a sudden heat rise to his cheeks and he turned away. His eyes flitted back to Will twice before he finally managed to keep them trained on the back of Robin’s headrest in front of him. 

The staring problem was definitely getting worse. 

A couple days later found Mike, Will, Robin, and Vickie all gathered in Mike’s basement watching Weird Science. 

Most of the movie was spent with Robin loudly proclaiming how hot the actress Kelly LeBrock was while the rest of them groaned and complained, unanimously agreeing by the end of it that Robin was banned from picking the movie next time. 

In addition to occasionally hanging out with Robin and Vickie, the last couple of weeks, Will had been hosting what Mike liked to teasingly call “tutoring sessions” at his house. He'd introduced Mike to more music and even a couple books like Maurice and Giovanni’s Room, though Mike hadn't gotten a chance to read them yet. Will had also told him more about famous queer people like Andy Warhol and Alan Turing. Will had been especially knowledgeable about Turing since he'd apparently done a project on him for school while he'd been living in California. 

Mike wanted to ask Will more about why he'd chosen to do a project on Turing. He'd been trying for weeks to bring up the topic of Will’s own sexuality, but Will was always quick to direct the conversation back on Mike. 

It was a little frustrating, if Mike was being honest. It wasn't as if he didn't like learning about Queer stuff. In fact, he thought it was rather fun. However, the whole point of all of this was so that Will would feel comfortable coming out to him, but he still hadn't. 

Will used to tell Mike everything. They never kept any secrets from each other, and Mike liked it that way. The fact that Will still hadn't told him he was gay bothered Mike more than he'd like to admit. 

He just wished they could go back to the way things were before. When they were younger, it'd felt like the two of them against the world, now Mike couldn't help but feel like Will was shutting him out. Even though they hung out almost every day, even if it seemed like they were closer than ever, Mike still wanted more. He wanted all of Will. 

Sometimes, Mike felt a little crazy over Will. He thought about him constantly. He was sure that once Will came out to him though, the feeling would fade and he would feel normal again. 

Maybe, Mike thought to himself, he just needed to show Will that he was fully accepting of his sexuality. If he just proved he was gay enough, then maybe Will would finally be honest with him. 

Mike decided to put his plan in action during another movie night. This time, they were watching The Outsiders with the party and Max and Jane. Max and Lucas were squished on the armchair while Mike, Will, and Jane had stolen the couch, leaving Dustin to sprawl out on the floor, much to his dismay. 

About thirty minutes into the movie, Mike poked Will on the arm. Will looked over at him, confused.

Mike gestured him to get closer, and Will leaned in, tilting his head so that his mouth was right next to Mike’s ear and whispered. “What is it?”

He turned back to face the TV, and Mike filled the vacated space, leaning in close, miscalculating the distance and accidentally brushing his lips against the shell of Will’s ear as he whispered, “He’s hot, isn't he?”

Will jolted, his head whipping back around.

“Whoa,” Mike said, reeling back just in time to keep their noses from colliding. 

“Sorry,” Will whispered with wide eyes, “What did you say?”

Mike huffed and leaned back in, this time maintaining eye contact with Will as he said, “He’s, like, attractive, right?” His eyes flicked back to the TV. 

Will’s brow furrowed as he looked back at the movie. “Which one? Matt Dillon?”

“No, no. That one.” Mike tried to gesture as subtly as he could. He definitely did not want to draw the others’ attention to their current conversation. 

Will raised his eyebrows. “Who? Rob Lowe?”

Mike shrugged. He didn't know the actor’s name. Then, he looked at Will expectantly. He didn't really know what kind of reaction he was waiting for or what he was hoping for. 

Will looked at Mike for a long second before his mouth twitched and he said, “Good choice.”

Mike brightened. “Yeah?”

Will swallowed and nodded. “Yeah. He's definitely good looking.”

It wasn't quite what Mike had been hoping he'd say. Good looking was a relatively neutral compliment. Straight guys could say other guys were good looking. He wished Will had said hot or handsome or, god forbid, hunky. But he'd played it safe, like always. 

Something about that made something reckless stir in Mike’s stomach, and before he could think too hard about what he was doing, he was reeling Will in with a hand on his bicep, whispering quickly into his ear. “You know, I think he kind of looks like you.”

For a moment, Will was still, seemingly processing Mike’s words. Then, he tensed, and Mike could have sworn, in the faint light of the TV glow, that Will was blushing. 

Mike smirked, finally satisfied as he sunk back in his seat and returned his attention to the movie. 

The next Saturday, Will had plans with Jonathan and Jane, so Mike was left to his own devices in terms of entertaining himself for the day. It'd been so long since Mike had had a whole day to himself that he felt a little unmoored. 

Finally, after a couple of hours putzing around in his room, being bored, Mike walked over to Lucas’s house, knocking on the front door, hoping beyond hope that Lucas was home and available to hang out. 

Luckily, he was and soon the two of them were biking into town to grab lunch. They ended up at a cafe that sold hot sandwiches and found a table outside after they'd gotten their food and a pair of sodas. 

“I’m glad you asked to do this, Man,” Lucas said through a big bite of his panini, “I feel like we haven't hung out, you and me, in a while.”

“Yeah,” Mike said, feeling slightly guilty. It really had been too long. 

“I’ve just been so busy with Max and Dustin and Erica, but that's no excuse. You're my friend too. One of my best friends,” Lucas said earnestly. 

“Yeah! I feel the same way. And I've been busy too. I mean I've basically been spending all my time with Will and…” Mike trailed off as he realized he didn't have a big list like Lucas did. It was really just Will. He swallowed, ducking his head to take another bite out of his sandwich in order to avoid Lucas’s gaze. 

Lucas chuckled. “Dude, I don't know how you guys never get sick of each other. I mean, I love you both, but I don't know if I could be around you guys all the time.”

Mike shrugged awkwardly. He didn't think he could ever get sick of Will. Sure, other people could be annoying or grate on his nerves and sometimes he just wanted the world to leave him alone for a little while, but that never included Will. Even in his worst moods, Mike still wanted Will around, mostly because Will seemed to have a talent for turning Mike’s bad moods into good ones. 

Mike thought back to the summer before Will had left for California. The two of them had barely hung out. Or they had, but it'd always been a part of the larger group. And Mike had kept running off to go make out with his new girlfriend. 

Mike remembered how thrilling it'd been to have a girlfriend, to be wanted in that way. It felt like a brag every time he and Jane ditched their friends to go do boyfriend and girlfriend things. It made him feel cool, mature. 

It'd also been kind of boring. By the time they got to the cabin, Mike was usually already regretting leaving the group, knowing that he and Jane would kiss for a bit before falling into their own prospective worlds, reading different things—Jane with her magazines and Mike with his comics—or watching Westerns. Mike hated Westerns. He and Jane rarely ever talked, and when they did, they never seemed to agree on anything. So they stopped talking after a while. 

That didn't stop them from running off all summer though. It was like a habit you just couldn't kick, something unconscious, something you almost felt like you had to do rather than something you wanted to do. 

Mike figured that was just what it was like to date someone. With friends it was different though. Mike never felt bored with Will. Even when they were doing nothing, Mike still felt happier with Will than when he was alone. 

“Uh, hello? Earth to Mike?” A hand waved violently in front of his face, causing Mike to lean back with a grimace. 

“What?”

Lucas rolled his eyes. “You didn't hear a single thing I just said, did you?”

A sudden shout saved Mike from having to reply. 

“She said no thank you!” a girl’s shrill voice carried across the street. 

Both Mike and Lucas turned to see what the commotion was about. 

Mike could immediately tell that there was trouble. There was a pair of girls standing on the sidewalk across the street, a tall guy in a jean jacket looming over them. The girls both looked extremely uncomfortable, the one shrunken down behind her friend’s shoulder while the other girl stood defensively, chin tilted high as she glared the guy down. Unfortunately, this did not seem to deter him in the least.

The guy said something with a smirk that had both girls bristling. That was about all Mike could stand. Before he knew what he was doing, his chair was screeching loudly as he jolted to his feet.

“Wha—Mike!” Lucas called after him.

Mike didn’t listen to him as he ran across the street towards the trio.

“Come on,” the boy was saying, “Don’t be a bunch of prudes.”

“We aren’t. We’re just not interested in you,” the more vocal of the two girls said.

“Monica, it’s okay,” the other girl said quietly, though the words didn’t hold up very well against the fact that she was clearly trembling.

“Yeah, Monica,” the boy sneered, “What are you, her attack dog? The lady can speak for herself.”

“Maybe the lady doesn’t want to talk to you, ever thought about that?” Monica fired back.

The boy’s eyes narrowed, his fists clenching at his sides. In a flash, he was darting forward, past Monica’s protective arm, his hand gripping the other girl’s arm and yanking her forward. The girl started forward with a yelp.

“Hey!” Monica cried out.

The boy tugged the other girl to his chest, looking down at her with a wide grin. “Come on, darling. Ditch the hag. I’ll show you a good time.”

“Please, let me go,” the girl whimpered.

Mike, having finally gotten within arm’s distance, grabbed the guy by the shoulder, shoving him hard.

The guy stumbled, releasing the girl as his arms pinwheeled, trying to keep himself balanced. He looked surprised for a moment before his eyes found Mike’s and narrowed.

“Haven’t you ever heard of the word ‘no’, dude?” Mike snapped.

“I don’t recall this being any part of your business.”

“No one wants you here, man, so why don’t you just go back to whatever creepshow hole you crawled out of,” Mike said.

“Shut the hell up.”

Then, without another warning, the guy swung. Mike wasn’t expecting it, and he took the hit hard, the guy’s fist catching the side of his jaw.

Mike stumbled back with a pained moan. He was pretty sure he’d just accidentally bitten the inside of his cheek too. Then, before he could recover, he felt another blow to his stomach, which had him keeling over, spitting out drool and blood onto the sidewalk.

“Yeah, that’s right. Stay down, you fucking—” the guy’s taunt was caught off my a satisfying thwack.

Mike looked up from his bent position to see Lucas standing in front of the guy who was now sporting a crooked, bloody nose. Lucas shook out his hand, wincing a little. He looked back at Mike, and the two of them shared a hesitant grin, both of them more than a little surprised by the sudden turn of events.

Then, the guy tackled Lucas to the ground.

“Get off me!” Lucas yelled, scrambling to try and throw another punch at the guy, but the guy was just a little bigger than him and had superior positioning, keeping Lucas pinned beneath his knees as he drew his fist back and slammed it down, hitting Lucas in the forehead, just above the corner of one of his eyebrows.

Lucas took the punch better than Mike had, letting out a short grunt before firing back.

Finally somewhat composed again, Mike joined the fray, shoving the guy off Lucas. He kicked him in the stomach before the guy grabbed hold of his foot and dragged him down to the sidewalk.

From there, it was an all-out brawl between the three of them. The guy was taller, bigger, stronger, and clearly more experienced in fighting, but between the two of them, Mike and Lucas managed to hold their own.

Finally, Lucas managed to clock the guy on the ear at the same time that Mike kneed him in the balls. The guy let out a piercing shriek, curling in on himself and rolling away from the two of them.

Mike immediately jumped to his feet, taking the opportunity to pull Lucas along with him. Then, he turned back to the two girls who had been watching the whole incident with wide eyes.

“Well, come on! Run!” Mike shouted, gesturing wildly for them to follow as he bounced on the balls of his feet, shuffling quickly away, gearing to break out into a run. Then, once the others seemed to get the memo, following after him, Mike did run.

He ran as fast as he could, around the corner and down the streets of Hawkins, the girls and Lucas hot on his tail. Eventually, Lucas, ended up at his side, keeping pace with him easily but not overtaking him since it seemed that Mike had a destination in mind.

He did, though he wasn’t conscious of the fact until the house came into view. It made sense. It was only a couple blocks away from where he and Lucas had been grabbing lunch, and Mike knew they would be safe there.

Mike spurred his feet to go faster despite the heavy cramping in his side and the way his lungs and throat burned.

He skidded to a stop on the porch, pounding heavily on the door before slumping back, clutching at his injured side, breathing heavily. He looked back at the pair of girls who were also breathing heavily, looking between him, Lucas, and the house with wide eyes.

“It’s alright,” Mike told them, “You’ll be safe here. And there’s a phone so that you can call someone to pick you guys up.”

“Thank you,” Monica said. She still looked harried, but also determined, like she was trying not to show how flustered she was. Her hand moved hesitantly over to her friend’s, grabbing and squeezing it reassuringly. Her friend looked over, giving her a weak smile.

Suddenly, the door swung open, and they all turned to look at the stunned figure standing in the doorway.

“Hey, Will,” Mike said, offering his friend a tiny wave and a smile that probably looked more like a grimace. Then, Mike remembered that his mouth was probably still a bloody mess and he immediately stopped smiling. 

Will let go of the door, darting forward and grabbing hold of Mike’s shoulder as the other cupped his face, tilting it up so that he could look more clearly at the dark bruise no doubt blooming on Mike’s jaw.

“Jesus, Mike, what happened?” Will breathed. He looked around at the other’s, his eyes wide and confused. Mike would find the expression endearing if he wasn’t so focused on how much his body ached.

“Uh, do you mind if we come in,” Mike asked weakly.

“What?” Will turned back to look at Mike. His hand dropped from Mike’s face, though his other hand still stayed on his shoulder as he nodded and said, “Oh, yeah, of course. Come in. All of you, come in.”

Will led them inside into the Byers’ living room, his hand finally dropping away from Mike as he turned to face Jonathan and Jane who were hovering just inside, no doubt already set on edge by Mike’s banging on the door. The second the two of them saw the group, their eyes widened.

In an instant, Jane was crowding Lucas, inspecting the gash above his eyebrow while Jonathan made his way over to Mike, grabbing his shoulder in the same way Will had done only moments before. His eyes flickered over to the two unknown girls standing in the entryway.

“What’s going on? What happened?” Jonathan questioned.

“Some mouthbreather was bothering them,” Mike grumbled, “Don’t worry. He probably looks a lot worse than we do.”

“He’d better,” Jonathan said darkly.

“You two look like shit,” Will added.

Mike chuckled. “Thanks.”

Jane moved from Lucas to the girls, extending her hand to them. “Hi, I’m Jane.”

The girls seemed to relax, both at another female presence, and Jane’s friendly introduction. 

“I’m Monica.”

“And I’m April,” the quieter of the two spoke up, shaking Jane’s hand as well, “Sorry to be such a bother.”

“You’re not,” Jonathan said, “We don’t like bullies around here. Whatever that guy did, I’m sure he deserved it.”

“Do you guys want to sit down?” Will offered, gesturing to the couch behind him. “I could get you guys some water. It looks like you’ve been running.”

“Yeah, thank you,” Monica said, “And maybe we could use your phone too? We’re not actually from around here. April’s brother was supposed to pick us up at the park after our movie finished, but if it’s okay for us to stay here a little while—”

“It is,” Jonathan said, “Stay as long as you like. And your brother can pick you guys up here. I’ll give you guys the address.”

Monica, who had been doing a good job of keeping it together, let out a quiet breath of relief, her shoulders sagging a little as she turned and shared another smile with April.

“Yeah,” April said, “That’d be great.”

Jonathan nodded as Jane led the girls over to the couch and drew them into a conversation about what movie they’d seen. 

Lucas planted himself on the armchair in the corner of the room, taking a wet washcloth from
Will as he walked back into the room.

Then, Will walked over to Monica and April, bending down to their level as he gently handed over the cups of water he’d brought.

“You got it?” he said softly as April’s hand shook a little when grabbing hold of the glass.

April nodded, and Will sent her a small smile, releasing his hold on the glass. It was such a sweet smile that April instantly relaxed, no longer looking weary of him as she had been before. Mike was unsurprised. Will had always been like that—so warm and compassionate that one couldn’t help but feel relaxed around him.

Will looked up then, accidentally locking eyes with Mike. His face instantly dropped into a worried frown as he moved across the room, invading Mike’s space again, his hand moving to Mike’s shoulder as if it’d never left.

“You should probably go to the bathroom to wash up,” he suggested, “You can rinse out your mouth in the sink.”

Mike winced and nodded. Blood wasn’t the best taste in the world. Still, he hesitated, looking back at Will for a moment before he said, “Will you come with me?”

Will looked surprised for a second, but then his face softened into a smile—this one even sweeter and more gentle than the one he’d given April. Mike liked to think that it was because Will liked him better. “Yeah,” Will said quietly, “Yeah. Let’s go.”

Will led Mike through the familiar hallways of the Byers’ house to the first floor bathroom just beyond the kitchen.

They passed by Jonathan who’d just retrieved the first aid kit. Jonathan asked if Mike needed it, but Mike shook his head, telling him that Lucas was the only one with an open wound, and Jonathan headed back to the living room, leaving the bathroom empty for Mike and Will.

Will closed the door behind them, leaving it open a small crack, which bothered Mike for some reason—probably because he wasn’t used to the door being open while he was in the bathroom. Then, Will closed the toilet lid, sitting down on top of it, his hands folded over his knees as he watched Mike rinse his mouth in the sink.

It was a rather small bathroom—just enough space for a cabinet and sink combo and a toilet. There was nowhere either of them could move that wasn’t within reaching distance, and Mike felt hyper aware of the way that Will was staring at him. He didn’t dare look back, though he didn’t know why. It almost felt like he was afraid of himself, like he didn’t know what he might do if he looked over and saw Will’s worried eyes staring up at him from only a foot away.

After he was done cleaning the blood and dirtied spit from his mouth, Mike leaned forward, observing his jaw in the mirror above the sink.

It was bruised alright, a light pinkish-purple color that would surely grow uglier and darker in the coming days. The spot was swollen too, making his jaw look a little uneven. God, his mom would probably kill him, but his dad might give him an approving nod, maybe say something about how ‘boys will be boys’, which would of course set his mom off again.

Mike reached forward, pressing curiously on the bruise and wincing when he felt a shock of fresh pain course through him.

“Don’t touch it,” Will told him, sounding exasperated.

Mike looked over at him, grinning a little sheepishly. “Sorry. I was just curious.”

“What’s there to be curious about? It’s a bruise. It’s going to hurt.”

“Alright, alright. I promise I won’t touch it again.”

“Thank you,” Will said tightly.

Mike moved, turning around to lean back against the sink, crossing his arms over his chest. He winced again when he felt the movement tug on something tender around his stomach.

“Hey, you’re hurt,” Will exclaimed.

“Yeah, I think we already established that, Will.”

“No, I mean, your torso.”

“Oh. Yeah, the guy might’ve punched me in the gut. Probably looks the same as my jaw. I’m sure it’s fine.”

“Let me see.”

“What?” Mike said, freezing a little, but Will didn’t seem to care, his eyes still trained on Mike’s stomach as if he was seeing through his clothes. Mike blushed. That was a weird thought. Why did he think that? It’s not as if Will could actually do such a thing. He wasn’t Superman. 

“Let me see,” Will repeated, his voice low and firm.

Mike was helpless to refuse, taking a step off the sink so that he was standing directly in front of Will. Will opened his legs a little, and Mike took it as an invitation to step even closer. From this close, he could feel Will’s breath against the fabric of his shirt—small, hot puffs that made Mike feel a little dizzy. Maybe he still hadn’t fully recovered from all the running he’d done earlier. His pulse was definitely still hammering in his chest. He wondered, briefly, if Will noticed, if he could hear it. Mike hoped he couldn’t.

Slowly, Will reached up, his fingers ghosting over the hem of Mike’s shirt, and Mike’s breath hitched.

Will’s head snapped up, having to crane his neck in order to meet Mike’s eyes. He looked a little nervous, his eyes wide and frightened, and Mike could have sworn there was a faint blush to his cheeks.

“Is this… okay?”

Mike couldn’t find the words to speak, so he just nodded, maintaining eye contact as Will’s fingers tightened on his shirt, slowly dragging it up. 

Then, Will’s hands shifted, turning to splay his palms on the sides of Mike’s torso as he continued to push his shirt up higher and higher.

Mike was breathing heavily now, the sound loud in the silence of the bathroom. He was pretty sure he could hear Will breathing too. He could see the way his chest was rising and falling more rapidly than was probably normal.

Mike didn’t know what was happening right now. He felt frozen, staring down at Will, his hands hanging awkwardly at his sides. He felt like he should be holding onto something, his knees feeling unusually weak, but there was nothing to hold onto.

Finally, Will tore his gaze away from Mike, his eyes flicking down to Mike’s stomach. His breath hitched as he finally caught sight of the wound.

Mike looked down too, his nose scrunching a little as he saw the ugly, splotchy red mark just to the left of his belly button. It didn’t hurt as much as the one on his jaw did, but it was still sore. It would probably make sleeping a pain since Mike tended to toss and turn throughout the night. If he moved too quickly, it would aggravate the wound and wake him up. So that was something to look forward to.

All of Mike’s internal grumblings came to an abrupt halt, however, as he watched Will swipe a gentle thumb over the wound, so feather-light Mike barely felt it at all. There was something reverent about the touch that made Mike’s heart rate pick up even more.

“Will,” Mike murmured. He hadn’t even meant to say it; it just slipped out.

Slowly, Will looked up at him through his lashes, and Mike was sure he would have toppled over, if Will’s hands hadn’t already been on his hips, holding him steady.

“Yeah?” Will whispered.

“What are you doing?”

Will blinked for a moment like he was just exiting a trance he’d been under. “S-Sorry,” he said with wide eyes.

“No, it’s fine,” Mike said quickly, “I don’t mind.”

“Oh. Okay,” Will said.

“Okay.”

Will looked back down at Mike’s stomach, his eyes glazing over again like he was thinking hard about something, or perhaps staring hard at something. It was then that Mike remembered that Will was gay. Will liked males. Which, theoretically, meant that he also liked male bodies.

Mike was a male.

Once he had that thought, Mike couldn’t help but wonder if Will liked what he saw. He was definitely staring at Mike’s torso for an awfully long time, his eyes focused and his hands still holding Mike’s hips in a possessive grip.

Mike felt his cheeks burn crimson. What if Will did like him? What if Will found him attractive?

Mike had heard people talk before, remarking about how disgusting gay men were, how they would be horrified to find out one was attracted to them. And as a straight man, Mike guessed he should be uncomfortable with the idea too. But it was Will. Nothing Will did could ever make him uncomfortable. 

A little breathless, Mike said, “You could kiss it better, you know.”

If Will refused, he could play it off like a joke, but if he didn’t…

Will’s eyes flicked up to his questioningly, but when Mike only tilted his head, giving him a small, encouraging smile, Will looked back down again and leaned in.

Mike’s eyes fluttered closed the second that Will’s soft lips brushed over his skin. A quiet sound escaped Mike, unbidden. It might have been a sigh, though Mike couldn’t focus much on what his own body was doing, when Will’s lips were still on him. They were so warm and a little wet, as if Will had unconsciously licked them before leaning in. 

The pressure increased momentarily, just enough for Mike’s wound to twinge a little. Then, it was gone, and Will was leaning back, his gaze fixed on a spot on the tiled floor just past Mike’s leg. Will’s hands retreated too, and Mike just barely held back a frustrated whine at the sudden loss of contact. 

What was happening to him? Why did he suddenly feel so hot? Maybe it was the bathroom. Maybe it was too stuffy. But then, that didn’t explain why Mike wanted to grab Will’s hands and put them back on his hips. It didn’t explain why Mike wanted to bury his own hands in Will’s hair and run his fingers through the gentle waves. 

“Better?”

Mike’s eyes drifted to Will’s mouth. “What?”

“Do you feel better now,” Will asked. 

“Um, yeah. I mean, no.”

“No?”

“I… my jaw,” Mike said. He didn’t know what he was saying. For some reason, he couldn’t stop staring at Will’s lips. “It still… hurts.”

Will hummed. “Right. Okay.”

There was a brief silence, tension filling the room until it was nearly suffocating. 

“Do you want me to…”

“Yes.”

Slowly, Will pushed himself to his feet. The space between him and Mike was almost completely eliminated now. Mike knew he should probably take a step back and give Will some space, but he couldn’t get his feet to move. It was like he was frozen, waiting to see what Will would do next.

“Mike,” Will said, sounding amused, “Are you… holding your breath?”

Mike exhaled quickly, his eyes snapping up to Will’s with a sheepish expression, color blooming on his cheeks. “Uh, s-sorry. I… I’m being weird, aren’t I?”

Will smiled. “Well, I think you’re always a little weird.”

“Hey!”

Will laid a hand on Mike’s cheek, and Mike instantly fell silent again.

“That’s okay though. I like weird,” Will said. Then, he leaned forward and lightly kissed Mike’s jaw, soft enough that it didn’t even aggravate his bruise. When he pulled back, dropping his hand, he met Mike’s eyes once more, looking a little nervous as he said, “Better now?”

“Right as rain,” Mike breathed, his eyes wide, his heart beating wildly in his chest.

Will snorted. “You’re such a dork.”

“Says the guy who used to leave out carrots on Christmas Eve because he was worried that Santa’s reindeer might not like cookies.”

Will choked. “Mike,” he whined, “Why would you bring that up?”

“What? I think it’s endearing!”

“It’s embarrassing! What if I just randomly brought up the time you fought that Christmas Elf at the Santa photo op your mom dragged you to in first grade?”

Mike scrunched his nose. “I don’t remember that.”

Will gasped. “What? Yes, you do! Stop lying!”

“I’m not lying. I think you dreamed that up, Will. Never happened.”

“Alright, so if I go call up your mom right now—”

“Hey, remember that time,” Mike said loudly, “That we went on an Easter Egg Hunt and you thought you found the golden egg, but it was really just the end piece that’d fallen off of one of the band kid’s trumpets?”

“Yes, I do,” Will said tightly, “I cried for two hours after that.”

Mike rolled his eyes. “Yeah, but then I was the one who found the real golden egg and gave it to you. So you can’t complain.”

At that, Will couldn’t help but smile. “Yeah, and the prize was a gift card to Noble Roman’s. I think we ate so much pizza that day we nearly got sick.”

“Well, I actually got sick. I threw up all over Jenny Martin the next day in science class.”

“Oh my god, that was you? You were Barf Boy?”

Mike leaned his head back, groaning loudly. “I’m gonna kill myself.”

“Hey,” Will laughed. He grabbed hold of Mike’s chin, pulling it back down so that he could look him in the eyes. “That’s not funny. Don’t joke about that.”

Mike’s mouth pinched, trying to repress a smile. “Fine. I’m gonna change my identity and move to The Netherlands.”

“Just so long as it’s not Spain.”

“Will!” Mike gaped before he burst out into a sharp peel of laughter. “Oh—Ow.”

He crumpled forward, his forehead landing on Will’s shoulder as his laughter pulled at the wound at his side. Will chuckled in his ear, low and warm.

Mike turned his head so that his cheek still rested on Will’s shoulder, staring up at his face. Will tucked his chin in, looking down at him, his laughter fading into a pleased little smile, his hand hovering near Mike’s back, not quite touching but still close enough for Mike to feel its warmth.

“I wish people knew you half as well as I do,” Mike said softly.

Will hummed. “Why’s that?”

“Because then they’d realize what an asshole you are.”

Will tried to smother a smile as he rolled his eyes. “‘M not an asshole.”

“Yes, you are. They think it’s just me. They always say stuff like ‘what is that innocent little Byers boy doing with shithead Wheeler? How does he put up with that spaz? Why are they even friends’?” Mike’s face scrunched up as he parroted the various comments he’d heard over the years. “Even my mom thinks I’m a bad influence on you!”

“That’s because you are.”

Mike narrowed his eyes. “No, I’m not.”

“No,” Will agreed, “You’re not. And you’re not a shithead either.”

“No?”

Will shook his head minutely. “I think you’re sweet.”

Mike made a noise from the back of his throat that sounded suspiciously like a yelp. He pulled back off Will’s shoulder, his eyes wide and confused. “What? Sweet? I’m not—Why would you say that?”

Will shrugged. “Because it’s true? You’re the reason our whole friend group even exists, Mike. You, like, slowly collected us over the years—these lonely little rejects who didn’t have anybody. You showed us what it was like to have friends. You let us treat your home like it was our own. Not to mention all the times you’ve taken care of me when I needed it.”

“I—but—” Mike said weakly, but Will just gave him a look, steamrolling past him. 

“Come on. You know it’s true. You’re annoyingly good at taking care of people. Like today, you defended those girls, even though you didn’t know them and it got you hurt.” Will sent Mike a smile that had Mike swallowing hard, his eyes lingering on the pull of his lips just a second too long. “So, yeah. You’re really sweet, Mike. And anyone who says otherwise clearly doesn’t know you like I do.”

Mike didn’t know what to say, the words he wanted to speak trapped somewhere in his subconsciousness while his conscious brain remained alarmingly blank. He tried several times, his jaw working open and closed before he finally uttered a quiet, almost broken-sounding, “Will.”

Mike didn’t even realize that his hand was reaching forward until the door to the bathroom burst open and he suddenly snatched it back, taking a large step away from Will as he whirled around towards the intruder.

April halted in the doorway, her gaze flicking back and forth between Mike and Will, her eyes growing wider and wider by the second.

For some reason, Mike wanted to tell her that it wasn’t what it looked like. But what did that mean? What did it look like? And why did he feel the sudden need to defend himself?

“April,” Will said cautiously, the first of them to speak.

April’s eyes snapped towards him, and suddenly, she sprung to life again, waving her hands in front of her frantically. “Oh, no, no, no. It’s fine!”

Mike frowned, his brow furrowing. What was she talking about? What was fine?

April turned, closing the door behind her before taking an eager step towards Mike and Will. “It’s fine,” she repeated again in earnest, “I won’t—I’m not going to tell anyone, I promise.”

“What?” Mike said.

“April, no that’s not—”

“I’m a friend of Dorothy’s too,” April blurted out.

Will’s mouth clicked shut.

Mike was tempted to say ‘what’ again. What did the Wizard of Oz have to do with any of this? Had she hit her head without him noticing?

“I, um, thank you,” Will said, “Thank you for telling us, April.”

“Monica too,” April continued, quiet and a little frantic, “We’re kind of… together. That’s what today was about. We couldn’t go out in our hometown, so my brother drove us here in the hopes that we wouldn’t get hassled, but, uh, clearly that didn’t work out so well.”

“I’m sorry,” Will said with a frown, “That must be tough.”

“Yeah.” April shot him a small smile. “I’m sure you know what that’s like. It’s easier though, when you realize that you’re not the only one, that you’re not as alone as you sometimes think you are.”

“Yeah,” Will rasped out, “Totally.”

“Well,” April said, looking between the two of them awkwardly, “I guess I should let you two—I’ll just tell the others not to come in here, yeah?”

“That’s okay. You don’t have to. We’ll be out in just a second,” Will said hurriedly, but April was already walking out, closing the door firmly behind her.

Will sunk down on the toilet lid with a heavy sigh.

“What the hell was that all about?” Mike questioned.

Will’s head snapped up, looking at him with a look of uncomprehension. “You didn’t… What do you mean?”

“What did she mean by ‘friend of Dorothy’? And what did she mean about her and Monica being together? Like, obviously they came here together. But why did she feel the need to reiterate that for us?”

Will stared at him for a long moment before he started to laugh. “Mike!”

“What?”

“Oh my god.” Will shook his head. “Oh my god, you can be so oblivious sometimes.”

“What? What am I missing here?”

“April and Monica,” Will said slowly, “They’re together. As in dating. As in totally gay for each other, Robin and Vickie style.”

Mike’s mouth dropped open. “O-Oh.”

“Yeah. Oh,” Will smiled, “And ‘friend of Dorothy’ is like a secret code. It’s mostly used by gay men to signal to other gay men that they’re—you know. But it can just mean that you’re not straight. Or, like, okay with gay people.”

“Secret code? That’s kind of cool,” Mike said.

Will snorted. “That’s what you got from all of that?”

Mike shrugged. “Seemed like the most important bit, yeah.”

Will shook his head, amused.

“Wait, but does that mean—Did she think we were—”

Will winced. “Yeah, I think so. Sorry about that.”

“No!” Mike said, “I mean, it’s fine. I don’t—I’m not offended or anything!”

“Me neither!” Will blurted out, “I just meant sorry because we’re not actually—I mean, you don’t—I’m not—well, we’re just friends!”

Mike’s mouth opened to respond but for some reason, Will’s words seemed to shove his own back down his throat. All of the sudden, Mike’s tongue felt heavy and there was a painful twinge in his chest—which was weird since that was one of the few parts on his body that hadn’t been bruised or trampled on during the fight. 

“… I know,” Mike said quietly, which came way too late and was probably the wrong thing to say. 

Mike wanted to bash his own head in. Maybe that would jog his mind enough for him to form a coherent thought. 

“I mean, of course I know we’re not—” Mike shook his head. “Let’s just go back and join the others, yeah? April’s probably still waiting for the bathroom.”

Will let out a small sigh. “Yeah. Probably.”

As they exited the bathroom, Mike got the sudden urge to pull Will back inside and demand answers, but he knew that he couldn’t, mostly because he didn’t even know what questions to ask. 

Well, Mike did have one question. 

What the hell had just happened?

Things only got worse from there. After whatever the hell had happened between them in the bathroom, Mike hadn’t been able to stop staring at Will. Well, that had been a problem before. Mike knew he had a staring problem. But now the staring was accompanied with thoughts.

In class, Mike would look over at the desk next to him and find himself getting distracted by the sight of Will’s profile. He didn’t understand how the light always seemed to filter in through the windows just right, hitting Will so that it highlighted his round cheekbone and made his brown hair look fluffy and soft.

When they hung out alone, it was even worse. Will was still intent on showing Mike about gay culture. Sometimes that meant listening to music or watching movies, but sometimes they would just sit on Mike’s bed, leaned in close together as Will told him stories about Josephine Baker and Oscar Wilde as well as the first pride parade and the Stonewall Riots in a hushed tone, not like they were something to be ashamed of, but like Will was handing Mike the map to El Dorado, trusting him with a knowledge not everyone could be privy to.

That was nice. Feeling trusted by Will always made Mike happy. And more and more, Mike was starting to believe that Will would come out to him. He’d share these long looks with Mike, like he was staring into his soul and found something new there, something he liked.

Other times, Mike was pretty sure Will would kill him before he even got the chance. Because sometimes, when they knew no one else was in the house, Will would grab a magazine off the kitchen table—one Mike’s mom had a weekly subscription for—and drag Mike into his bedroom. Then, he’d point at the various male celebrities before looking at Mike with wide eyes as he asked whether Mike thought they were cute or not. Will seemed unusually eager to figure out what Mike’s type was. And while Mike certainly had opinions at the ready—he was a very opinionated person in general—he couldn’t tell Will his true opinion, which was that Will himself put everyone else to shame.

He was just so effortlessly handsome. Now that they were older and more mature, girls seemed to flock to Will, always asking him for help on homework or, quite directly, asking him out. It irked Mike whenever it happened. Where were these girls five years ago? Why now? Why did they only just now realize how great Will was when Mike had known it for years? But, alas, Mike couldn’t really blame them. Will was hot, and everybody knew it. 

Mike felt a little better about it now that he knew all those girls’ efforts were in vain. Will didn’t like girls like that. He never would. 

Then, Mike remembered that Will did like boys. He could get a boyfriend one day. And suddenly, that sinking feeling in Mike’s gut was back again.

“Hey, Will?”

Will looked up from the magazine he was reading. Well, he wasn’t really reading anything given that the entire page was covered with pictures of shirtless men. Mike really wished he could tease Will for it, but he had to remind himself that Will didn’t know Mike knew that Will was gay. So, instead, Mike pretended like he didn’t notice the distracted look in Will’s eyes, and continued.

“Do you know of any other gay guys in Hawkins?”

Will choked. “W-What? You mean, like… other than you?”

I mean other than you, Mike didn’t say.

“Yeah.”

“Oh.” Will shifted, putting the magazine down to give Mike’s full attention. Mike couldn’t help but brighten a little bit at that. He loved having Will’s full attention. “Why, um, why do you ask?”

Mike shrugged, trying to come off as nonchalant. “I was just thinking, like, if there was a gay guy in Hawkins and he wanted to date, how would he do that?”

Will froze. His whole body tensed up, eyes wide, chest unmoving, not even breathing, as he stared at Mike. It was a little creepy, to be honest. Mike didn’t really know how to interpret that reaction. Why was Will so against the idea of dating? Unless… Unless Will had already been on a date before. Had he? Did he have a secret boyfriend Mike didn’t know about? It seemed impossible. Then again, Will couldn’t even muster up the courage to tell Mike about the gay thing.

Just when Mike was starting to spiral and convince himself that Will really did have a secret boyfriend, Will said in a quiet voice, “To date?”

“Yeah, um, yeah,” Mike said, “I was just wondering, you know, hypothetically.”

“Hypothetically,” Will echoed.

“Yeah.”

Will swallowed. “Well, I don’t—I don’t know of anybody. Like, for sure. I mean, besides Robin and Vickie, but they’re both women. Why? Was there… someone you had in mind?”

“Me?” Mike said, surprised.

Will frowned. “Well, who else is there?”

“Right.” Mike winced. “Right, of course. I don’t know of any gay guys either, besides… me. And—And David Bowie. Wait, no, he’s bisexual isn’t he? You know what I mean. It’s just… just me.” Mike looked back at Will, peaking at him through his lashes with a tentative expression. “Right?”

“No,” Will said, and Mike’s heart leapt. Then, it fell again as Will continued, “No, I’m sure there’s other gay guys in Hawkins, Mike. Multiple, in fact. I mean, statistically, there must be more. So… So if you wanted to, you know, date, I’m sure… I’m sure there must be someone who’d be interested.”

Mike’s face pulled into a not quite scowl, more confused than anything. He gave a short, mirthless chuckle. “Interested in me? Come on, Will. I didn’t have the best chances when I was trying to date women. At this point, I might as well just give up on romance altogether.”

“Don’t say that,” Will said quietly. His eyes looked so sad that Mike almost took the words back, but he didn’t understand why Will was sad for him. He’d known Mike almost his whole life. He knew he wasn’t popular, not even close. He had to know that Mike wasn’t… desirable.

“It’s fine, Will.” Mike laughed a little as he said it, but it sounded hollow. Mike turned away from Will’s searing gaze. He stood, moving over to his closet and throwing the doors open. He spent several moments rooting around inside before he pulled out a sweatshirt, talking over his shoulder as he pulled it on over his head, “It’s so cold in here. Are you cold?”

When there was no forthcoming response, Mike continued.

“My mom absolutely refuses to turn on the heat until November, which is ridiculous since we’re not exactly strapped for cash, and sometimes it gets really, really cold at night. You know how it is. I’m just saying we could turn up the thermostat a couple of degrees, especially since it’s cooled off since it rained over the weekend and—Will?” Mike finally turned around, his arms falling back to his sides as he caught sight of Will’s expression—thoughtful, almost pained. “Are you okay?”

Will’s eyes snapped to him. He looked scared for some reason, and Mike’s internal alarm was immediately raised. He slunk forward, crawling back onto the bed until he was sitting right in front of Will. Then, he sat back on his heels, tilting his head, giving Will what he hoped was an inviting smile.

“Hey, what’s up? Where’d you go just now?”

“I—” Will swallowed, his eyes still wide. “I might know someone.”

“What?” Mike frowned, confused.

“I might know someone who’s gay,” Will continued stiltedly, “I don’t know for sure. But he might be. He probably is. He works at the movie theater. We could go, if you want.”

“Go… where?”

Will huffed, seemingly frustrated with how slow Mike was at picking up on what he was saying. Mike thought Will could stand to be a little less vague. “I just meant—we could go to the theater, so you could see him. You could…” Will looked like he was going to pass out. 

“Talk to him?” Mike suggested.

“Flirt with him,” Will finished at the same time, and both he and Mike turned a bright shade of red.

“Flirt?” Mike squawked, “Why would I flirt with him?”

“Because,” Will said mutedly, “You said you wanted to date, and Owen is the only gay guy I know. I mean, the only guy who might be gay.”

“Are you trying to get me hate crimed?” Mike demanded.

Will’s eyes widened, and he immediately became animated, his hands flying up to comfort Mike. “No! No, of course not! I told you. I’m pretty sure about him. I might have… overheard something I shouldn’t have when I went to go to the bathroom the last time we went to the movies. And you wouldn’t have to do anything overt. You can just talk. Just be nice and maybe… maybe smile at him.”

“Be nice and smile?” Mike grinned, suddenly amused, “That’s your idea of flirting. Will Byers…”

Will blushed, shoving his hands in his lap and turning away to hide his face. “Stop.”

“No, it’s cute,” Mike insisted, “So, you really want me to try and flirt with this guy?”

“No,” Will said, “You’re the one who said you wanted to.” Mike had said nothing of the sort. “I’m just trying to be a good friend. And a good mentor. You know. For the gay thing. It doesn’t have to be hypothetical anymore. You could…”

“Actually be gay?” Mike said with raised eyebrows.

“You’re already gay.” Will rolled his eyes. “You could just, you know, be gay with someone else.”

“With Owen, you mean.” Mike said, though it was really a question. His eyes searched Will’s face, trying to get a read on him, but for once, Will’s expression was carefully blank.

Will gave a half shrug. “Why not?”

“Yeah,” Mike breathed, “Why not.”

That was how Mike and Will ended up at the theater on the edge of town, having ridden their bikes there on the next Saturday to catch an early matinee.

“This is going to be really stupid if he doesn’t actually work today,” Will muttered as they began to walk into the theater.

“No, it won’t. I really wanted to see this movie. We probably would have ended up here anyway,” Mike said, “Besides, I like anytime I get to spend with y—”

“He’s here,” Will said, his breath hitching as his eyes dart to somewhere over Mike’s shoulder.

Mike tried not to make it obvious as he turned and began to scan the room. It was hard to tell who Will was talking about when there were several people behind the counter at concessions. He could rule out the older woman in the lime green glasses, but there were two guys their age also wearing uniforms and dishing out popcorn.

Mike leaned in so that his mouth was near Will’s ear as he whispered, “Which one?”

“On the end,” Will said, sounding oddly strangled, “I’m gonna, uh, go to the bathroom. G-Good luck.”

He darted away before Mike could pull him back and ask him to stay. He didn’t even want to do this and he definitely didn’t want to do it without Will by his side. But Will had left him, and Mike still needed to buy their popcorn and candy, so he sighed and trudged up to the register at the very end of the counter, shooting the guy behind it a tight-lipped smile.

“Hi, uh, Owen,” Mike said, making sure to let his eyes obviously flick down to the guy’s name tag, so that Owen didn’t think he was a stalker or anything.

Owen’s mouth quirked into a small smile as he looked at Mike. Mike was almost sure that his eyes scanned him up and down for a split second. Was he checking him out? Was that what that was? Mike felt himself grow hot.

“Hi,” Owen said, “What’s your name?”

“Mike.”

“Mike,” Owen echoed, “Do you live around here?”

“Yeah. Yeah, you?”

“Nah. I live about two towns over.”

“Oh. That makes sense. I mean, it makes sense that I’ve never seen you in school then. Because we don’t go to the same schools,” Mike said awkwardly.

Owen’s smile grew. “Would you notice if we did?”

“Well, it’s not exactly a big school. There’s only about a hundred of us,” Mike said with a shrug. “Um, sorry. Can I get a large popcorn? And a box of Reese’s Pieces? Please.”

“Sure thing.” Owen smiled at him again before punching buttons into the register. He didn’t move to get the food after he was finished, however, instead remaining firmly in front of the register as he said, “So, what movie did you come to see?”

“Oh. Just the new horror movie. I forget what it’s called, but the trailer made it look cool. I mean, I think I’ll like it. I’m not really too picky.”

“Well, then you’ll definitely like it. I’ve seen it twice already. It’s really good.”

“Twice? Wait, didn’t it just come out the other day?”

Owen nodded. “Perks of working at a movie theater. We get to see all the free screenings we want.”

“Sick,” Mike said, “So have you seen a lot of movies then?”

“Oh, tons. I’m a huge sci-fi fan myself.”

“Really?” Mike brightened, “Have you seen the Star Wars movies? I didn’t really hear about them until a few years ago, but my friends and I ended up catching the last one, Return of the Jedi, in theaters and it was super cool. I made my mom get it on vhs, and we watched it like twenty more times after that.”

“Have I seen the Star Wars films? What, do you think I live under a rock or something?”

Mike laughed. “That’s what my friend said when I asked her. I guess it’s weird to like something so popular. Usually when I talk about my interests, people have no clue what I’m talking about.”

“I get that. My dad and brothers are super into baseball, and every time they talk about it, it’s like they’re speaking another language. I just don’t understand all the interest in sports in general, no offense if you’re an athlete or anything.”

Mike snorted. “I’m definitely not an athlete. No, I’m more of a nerd. And I’ve got two sisters, so I'm very familiar with the alien language.”

Owen laughed, and Mike felt himself smiling, proud that someone found him funny.

“You’re funny,” Owen said a moment later, and Mike blinked, surprised to have someone pay him a compliment so directly.

Mike suddenly remembered what Will had said. Be nice and smile. Flirt. Mike could do that. He wasn’t really interested in Owen like that, but he was having fun, so what the hell.

Mike braced his arms on the counter, leaning forward just a little and shooting Owen a smile. “Yeah, well, you’re not too bad yourself.”

Owen’s eyebrows raised. “You think so?”

“Well,” Mike said, making a show of pondering it for a moment before ticking off on his fingers, “You like sci-fi. You don’t like sports. And you can see free movies any time you want. That makes you pretty cool in my book.”

Owen hummed, looking pleased. “Well, I don’t just get to see free movies. I can bring friends along too.”

“You do?”

Owen made a waffling motion with his head. “Well, I can sneak them in the back.”

Mike guffawed. “Do you really? Now that’s cool.”

Owen made a face, amused. “You think breaking the law is cool?”

“I mean, doesn’t everybody, just a little?” 

“Why does that give me the impression that you’ve broken the law a few times before, Mike?” Owen said, smirking.

Mike’s mind flashed to images of shouting at the chief of police, breaking and entering, burning down an entire shopping mall, and shoot outs with army officials. He grinned at Owen and said, “You have no idea.”

“So, you’re a bad boy.”

“I prefer the term rebel with a cause.”

Owen snorted. “Okay, James Dean.”

Mike smiled. “You know, that’s actually a great mov—”

“Are you almost done?” A voice snapped, making Mike whip around.

Will had appeared suddenly at his side. He looked annoyed, his arms crossed over his chest as he glared at Owen across the counter.

“Uh, yeah. Just about. Owen was just about to get the popcorn,” Mike replied.

“Didn’t look like that to me,” Will muttered, and out of his periphery, Mike saw Owen dash away to fulfil their order. Only then, did Will’s eyes finally find Mike, his eyebrows dipping even lower as he caught Mike’s curious expression. “What?”

“Why are you suddenly so annoyed?”

“I’m not,” Will said mulishly, “I just think we should hurry. I don’t want to miss the beginning of the movie.”

“O-Okay. I mean, I think we still have plenty of time but—”

Owen returned with the popcorn and candy.

“Thanks, Owen,” Mike said, shooting him another friendly smile.

Owen seemed to relax a little at that, smiling back as he said, “Anytime, Mike.”

He looked like he was going to say more, but at that exact moment, Will stepped in between them, grabbing the bag of popcorn. He turned, pushing the popcorn into Mike’s chest, and Mike fumbled to grab hold of it as Will’s hand began to trail down his chest. 

Mike’s breath hitched as Will’s hand snuck under his sweatshirt, grabbing hold of the hem of his shirt and tugging it down fiercely. He righted the sweatshirt as well, giving Mike’s hip two firm pats before he spun back around and snatched the candy off of the counter, sending Owen one last look that Mike couldn’t see but had Owen grimacing slightly.

Mike was blinking rapidly. He couldn’t even be bothered to spare Owen one final glance as Will grabbed him by the elbow and began to lead him away.

It was only when Will shoved him into his theater seat, a loud trailer playing on the big screen in front of them, that Mike finally felt himself return to his body. He looked over, observing Will’s tense figure in the seat beside him.

“Okay,” Mike said, pouting, “What the hell was that?”

“What was what?” Will muttered, his eyes still fixed firmly on the screen.

Mike leaned in closer so that his arm sat on the armrest between them. Will still refused to turn and look at him, and Mike felt himself growing irritated. “Why were you so… You’re the one that wanted me to—to…” Mike leaned in even closer, despite the fact that there was no one sitting near them. “Flirt.”

Will, if possible, tensed even further. “Yeah. And? Why do you think I went to the bathroom? I was giving you two some alone time.”

“Yeah, then, you came back and scared him off with your glares and your ‘we’re gonna be late’ bullshit. We’re not even late! The trailers are still going!” Mike gestured.

“Oh, well, my apologies,” Will drawled, “By all means, go back out there and flirt some more. Don’t let me stop you.”

“No, that’s—What is going on with you, Will? Why are you so mad?”

“I’m not.”

“You are!” Mike argued, “You’re acting weird, which is stupid because it was your whole idea in the first place. I wasn’t even into him!”

“You—” Will finally turned to look at him. “You weren’t?”

Mike huffed. “No. I mean, he was nice, but he’s not really my type.”

“What’s… What’s your type?” Will said quietly. They were close, maybe only a few inches apart now. Mike was finding it a little hard to concentrate. His mind kept going back to Will’s hands on him in the lobby, firm, almost possessive. It was a lot different than how Will had touched him in the bathroom. Mike wasn’t sure which was more confusing. Or which one made him more confused.

“What’s yours?” Mike shot back, not really keeping track of what his mouth was saying.

Will’s eyes widened. In the dim light, Mike could swear he was blushing a little.

“I don’t think that’s really relevant right now,” Will whispered.

“Maybe I just want to know,” Mike murmured before adding, “I want to know everything about you, Will.”

Mike’s eyes dipped low. He didn’t even realize he’d done it until he felt Will’s hand grip his bicep, ducking down a little so that his eyes were level with Mike’s again. There was a fierce look in his eyes, just like in the lobby. Instead of it making him look angry, however, it sent an odd heat down Mike’s back. He felt comforted by that look, safe. He’d never seen Will look at anyone the way he was looking at him now.

“W-What,” Mike asked, a little breathless.

“If you don’t want to talk to Owen, then don’t talk to him,” Will said. He phrased it like it was Mike’s decision, but the way he said it sounded like a command, like he was telling Mike not to do it.

Mike found himself nodding. “Yeah. Of course. Whatever you say.”

At that, something eased in Will’s expression, the tight line of his mouth breaking out into a small smile. “That sounds dangerous. Whatever I say?”

Mike shrugged helplessly, his eyes never leaving Will. 

“What if… What if I asked you to do something you didn’t want to do?” Will said, his eyes roving over Mike’s face, his hand on Mike’s bicep warm and weighty. It felt like Will had an abnormal gravity to him, slowly pulling Mike in.

Mike licked his lips and he felt a thrill at the way Will’s eyes briefly darted down to track the movement. “What,” he asked, “Like asking me to flirt with other guys?”

“Yeah,” Will said roughly, “Never do that again.”

“Okay.”

Will huffed. “You can’t just agree with everything I say.”

“Why not? You’re usually right, so if anything, it’d be stupid of me not to listen to you,” Mike pointed out, and there was a strange light in Will’s eyes now, something bordering on manic as he rubbed a thumb up and down Mike’s bare skin.

Mike was surprised he could even speak when his entire mind was focused on chanting Will, Will, Will, Will.

“And what if…” Will began, his voice low. Mike didn’t remember when Will’s voice had dropped from its adolescent falsetto, but his new, deeper voice kind of made him dizzy.

“Yeah?”

Will hesitated. “What if I suggested something crazy?”

Mike’s answer was immediate. “I like crazy.”

Will’s hand dropped off Mike as he crumpled, his shoulders hunching as he laughed. Mike would be a little offended if he thought Will was laughing at him, but he didn’t think that was the case. It almost seemed like Will was… flustered?

Will let out another small chuckle, shaking his head while still avoiding Mike’s gaze. “You’re such an idiot.”

“What? What did I say?” Mike frowned.

When Will looked back at him, it wasn’t the same smoldering look as before. Instead, it was bright, Will’s eyes almost looking wet without how brightly they shined in the darkness. Mike felt his stomach drop, his heart picking up speed as Will continued to look at him with a wide, helpless smile.

Mike was just about to say something stupid, something about how Will might be the best thing he’s ever seen—there were so many nice things to look at in the world, maybe even objectively prettier things, but they would never be Will, and for that, they’d always be a step down from perfection—but Will beat him too it.

“The movie’s starting, Mike.”

Mike’s eyes finally parted from Will to see that he was right. Still, Mike spared one last glance, drinking in his best friend sitting next to him in the darkness. 

And Mike wanted.

After the movie was over, the two of them walked out through a side exit, the dim, artificial lighting of the theater gave way to the orange glow of evening sunlight. Mike closed his eyes, taking in a deep breath of fresh air.

“Well, that was a total bust,” Mike sighed as he exhaled. Despite his words, he felt good. In fact, he probably felt more content than he had in a long while. “The shitty effects were to be expected, but it made absolutely no sense!”

“Well, it probably would have helped if we’d seen the first one.”

“How was I supposed to know it was a sequel!”

“It’s literally in the title, Mike. Return of the Killer Tomatoes? Kind of a dead giveaway.”

“Yeah. Well, whatever. I definitely don’t want to see the first one. This one was shit. And the first one probably is too. I can’t believe that Owen guy said it was good!” Mike scoffed, “He’s clearly got terrible taste in movies.” Mike turned and pointed a finger at Will. “Never trust someone with terrible taste in movies, Will.”

Will was already looking up at him with an amused smile. “I would never.”

“Good,” Mike said firmly. Then, he really took in Will’s expression and he felt himself falter a little, blushing under the unabashed attention Will was giving him. Mike turned away, stuffing his hands into his pockets. “Stop smiling at me like that,” he grumbled.

“Like what? I’m just looking at you, Mike,” Will teased.

“You know exactly what—” Mike made the mistake of looking back at Will. The sunlight was casting a glow on half of his face, highlighting the apple of his cheek, shining directly on one of his eyes so that the other, which was still in shadow, looked like a completely different color. His hair looked almost auburn in this lighting. And Mike just lunged. He couldn’t help it. 

He tackled Will, nearly bowling him over as he wrapped his arms around Will’s shoulders, carrying the two of them several feet backwards as Will stumbled, a surprised laugh tumbling past his lips.

“Mike! What are you—”

“Shut up,” Mike grinned, squeezing Will tighter, digging his chin into the dip of Will’s shoulder, “Just shut up.”

“Mike,” Will laughed brightly.

Mike refused to let him go. He ducked his head so that his lips pressed against the collar of Will’s shirt, trying to hide his smile, or perhaps letting Will know that it was there, because there was no way Will couldn’t feel it.

“You’re gonna have to let go some time,” Will said.

“Mhnm,” Mike hummed into Will’s shoulder, shaking his head slightly.

“Yes-huh. We don’t exactly have a tandem bike we can ride back home, Mike.”

Mike lifted his head slightly. “We could buy one. We could buy one of those large get-a-long t-shirts too.”

“Pfft! I think we get along just fine.” Will finally managed to shove Mike off him, and Mike rolled back on the heels of his feet, unsure why he felt so giddy all of a sudden.

“We could still do it. We’ve done it before.”

“When?” Will pulled a face as the two of them began to make their way to where they’d tied up their bikes farther down the sidewalks. 

“I don’t know. I don’t really remember what we were fighting about, but your mom put us in Jonathan’s old band t-shirt, the white one, except it didn’t really work because you got so mad!” Mike laughed.

“Oh my god!” Will exclaimed, “I totally forgot about that! And I got mad because you kept sneezing all over me!”

“You were all ‘stop, Mikey, you’re so annoying!’ Like I could help it! You can’t control your sneezes, Will!”

“I can.”

“Well, I’m sorry you’re just so much better than the rest of us,” Mike drawled, rolling his eyes.

Will laughed as he bent down to unchain his bike. “Yeah, well… you know it’s funny. I totally forgot that I used to call you that.”

“Call me what? Annoying?”

“No,” Will huffed, “I still call you that.”

“Yeah, but you don’t really mean it,” Mike said confidently as he unchained his own bike, throwing his leg over the seat.

“As I was saying,” Will said pointedly, “I forgot that I used to call you ‘Mikey’. That’s such a little kid’s name.”

“Okay and? I was a little kid then.”

“No, I know. I’m just saying. It’s kind of crazy. Sometimes I forget just how long we’ve known each other.” Will finally sat down on his own bike, looking over at Mike. He sent him a shy smile that made Mike’s whole body warm.

“True. And when we’re old and grey and stuff, it’ll be like we spent our whole lives together! I mean, not technically, but who’s really counting those first five years anyway,” Mike said.

Will looked away, his cheeks coloring. “You really think we’ll still be friends?”

“What?” Mike said in shock, “Why wouldn’t we be?”

“I—” Will shrugged, his grip tight on his handle bars as he continued to avoid Mike’s gaze. “I don’t know. What if we grow apart?”

“Not possible.”

Will looked up sharply, staring at Mike with nervous eyes. “How can you be sure?”

Mike sighed, leaning back on his bike, staring up at the sky. “I don’t know. I just am. When you were in California, you’ve never felt farther away. And I was so… scared that things were never going to be the same. But then as soon as we were together again it took, what, one day for us to feel like best friends again? And—And, I mean, you died, Will. Or at least I thought you did. And if you ever… if something like that ever happened again… well, I’d never let it happen. I can’t imagine my life without you in it, Will. That’s how I know.”

Mike looked over at Will nervously.

Will swallowed, his eyes wide and glassy.

Mike expected Will to say something then, but instead he tilted his bike to the side so that he could lean into Mike’s space. He hesitated for a second, watching Mike’s eyes, but Mike stayed still, and Will raised a hand, cupping Mike’s cheek while placing a soft kiss on the other.

Mike’s breath stuttered.

“Such a sweetheart,” Will murmured as he pulled back and sent Mike a warm smile.

Mike felt like his heart just fell out of his ass.

Unfortunately, Will gave him no time to recover as he righted himself and kicked up his kickstand, pulling away from the bike rack.

As he began to turn and bike away, Mike scrambled to follow after him.

“Wait, Will! Wait!” he called after him.

“Come on, Wheeler! Keep up!”

“Okay, wait, I’m not done complaining about the movie.”

“Of course you’re not.” Will laughed. “Well? Let’s hear it then.”

“Okay, so…” 

The revelation should have come upon him that evening. It should have happened months, perhaps years ago. But life didn’t often work out the way it was supposed to.

It happened on a random Wednesday instead. 

Mike was running errands with his mom. To be clear, he didn’t want to be running errands with his mom, but when she’d found him lounging on the couch after school with a comic instead of doing homework, she told him he could be useful and come and pick up the dry cleaning and groceries with her. 

So now Mike was sitting shotgun, the windows rolled down as they drove through Hawkins. It was a nice day out—one of the few days of early spring that didn’t suck. The sky was partly cloudy and the breeze was warm instead of bitingly cold. 

Mike was drumming his fingers absently against the window frame when the song they’d been listening to ended, switching from a Madonna song Mike couldn’t be bothered to remember the name of to something more synth pop. Mike immediately liked it. 

You leave in the morning with everything you own in a little black case

He began to nod his head along with the beat as he watched the view of Hawkins fly by. 

By happenstance, Mike glanced at his mom just as the next line of the song kicked in. 

Mother will never understand why you had to leave

But the answers you seek will never be found at home

The love that you need will never be found at home

As the chorus began to play, Mike shifted, suddenly uncomfortable, though he didn’t know why. 

“This sounds like the kind of song you’d like,” his mom said off-handedly, and Mike’s head snapped over to look at her. 

“W-What? Why?”

“I don’t know. But it sounds like you. Doesn’t it?” She said, readjusting her sunglasses in the rearview mirror. 

Mike nearly laughed at the irony of her saying that just as the singer began to croon the next verse. 

Pushed around and kicked around, always a lonely boy

You were the one they talked about

Around town, as they put you down 

And as hard as they would try, they’d hurt to make you cry

But you never cried to them, just to your soul

“Mike?”

“Huh? Yeah. I guess.”

“You don’t like it?” His mom asked. 

Mike shrugged stiffly. “I don’t know. It’s fine.”

His mom seemed content to leave it at that, giving a little shrug of her own as she returned her full attention to the road ahead, but Mike couldn’t seem to move past it. 

Run away, turn away

Run away, turn away, run away

Run away, turn away

Run away, turn away, run away

He stared at his mom sitting in the driver's seat like it was his first time seeing her. And suddenly, he had to ask. 

“Are you ever going to divorce dad?”

His mom nearly swerved right off the road. “Michael!” She snapped, more flustered than anything. Then, once the car was righted again, she turned her head and shot him a look. “Why would you say something like that?”

Mike turns away to look out the window. “I was just asking,” he mumbled. 

“Well, that was a very mean thing to ask,” his mom huffed, “Your father and I have been married almost twenty years. That is a very long time.”

“So?”

“What has gotten into you?” His mom demanded.

“I don’t know!” Mike defended, “Forget it! Forget I said anything!”

“No! I want to know what you meant by that!”

“You’re just going to get mad at me!”

“Try me,” his mom growled. 

“He doesn’t even hug you, mom,” Mike snapped, whirling around in his seat to look at her. His mom was facing forward, her eyes still on the road but open wide in shock. Mike took it as permission to continue. “He doesn’t hug you. He barely even touches you.”

“Your father… what… what does that have to do with anything?”

“Because you’re great at giving hugs. If he loved you, he’d hug you more. If he loved you, he’d show it, but he never does. And I—I just think you deserve better,” Mike let out all in one breath. As soon as he was finished talking, it was like something large and heavy had been removed from his chest. 

He watched his mom’s profile with a nervous expression, unsure how she would take what he’d just say, if she’d yell at him or pull the car over just to spank him in the middle of the town center. 

Figuring he’d gone this far, he added, “And I think you should move out of Hawkins.”

For some reason, that was what finally broke his mom.

With a sudden jerk, she was pulling the car over to the side of the road, right next to Hawkins’ General Store, parking crooked and nearly jumping the curb before the car halted to a complete stop. 

Mike jerked forward, his seat belt tugging painfully on his sternum and throwing him back against his seat. Then, the music and the car’s engine abruptly cut off. Mike’s heart raced, thinking he really had been right and his mom was about to drag him out of the car just to slap him across the ass when she whirled around to look at him, her eyes wet with tears. 

“Mike,” she choked, “What is going on with you, baby? Why are you saying all of this?”

Mike shrunk back in his seat, suddenly feeling small. He hated it when his mom cried, even worse when it was him who made her cry. “I’m sorry. I was just thinking—or, well, sometimes I worry. I worry that you’re not really happy. Or that I’ve never really seen you happy.”

“Mike, you make me happy, okay? You and your sisters are everything to me. You have to know that.”

“I know,” Mike said quietly, “God, I know that, but what if it’s not enough? Because I know you care but sometimes, most of the time, it’s like you’re not even there. I mean, mom, we were running around, fighting literal monsters for years without you ever noticing!”

His mom flinched at that.

“And I’m not trying to—I don’t—I don’t know. You’re just not there. You’re not there. And I’m worried I’m that one day going to end up like you!” Mike blurted out. 

His mom reeled back, shocked. 

“What do you mean by that?”

“I mean—I don’t know what I mean—except that I do. I do. And maybe I’ve known for a while. But I kept shoving it down. Because I didn’t want to be different. I didn’t want things to be harder than they already were. So I kept my mouth shut, like it would stop me from wanting things. But what if that just ends up making me push everything away?” Mike said, gesturing uselessly, “What if I’m sad all the time, but I never do anything about it?”

Mike looked up slowly, meeting his mother’s eyes. 

She didn’t look anything like him. People always said he was the spitting image of his father. But right here, right now, Mike could see himself in her. He could see the same fire, the same sadness, the same fear reflected back at him. 

Then, suddenly, his mom’s face hardened, fire overtaking everything else. “Listen, I don’t know what’s going on with you, Mike, but you’re not like me.”

Mike made to protest, but his mom cut him off. 

“You’re better.” His mom reached forward, tucking a stray hair behind his ear. “You’re so brave, Mike. You’ve gone through so much over these last few years. And you’re right. I wasn’t there for you like I should have been. But you still did it. You did it. So, if you were to ask if I’m worried about you, I’m not. I know you, Mike. You won’t make the same mistakes I did.”

“I could,” Mike whispered, “I… I’m so scared, mom. It’s like I’m petrified. Like if I make any sudden movements, something’s going to come for me and take everything away. And I’ll be alone. I’ll be all alone.”

Mike choked, crumpling forward and burying his head into his hands. He took several shaky, gasping breaths, trying not to cry. 

“Hey, you’re not alone. Never. You have your friends. And your sisters. And you have me, Mike. Always. You’re my son.” Though Mike couldn’t see her, he could hear the smile in her voice as she added, “My favorite son.”

He almost smiled too, even on the verge of tears. His mom loved that joke. 

He lifted his head up, shooting her a wry look as he said, “I’m your only son.”

“Exactly.” His mom reached out to grasp his shoulder. “And I would never, ever abandon my only, favorite son. So, as long as I’m alive, you’ll always have me in your corner.”

She gave him a small, hopeful smile. 

Mike tried to return it but he faltered slightly as he asked, “Even if… Even if I was gay?”

His mom blinked, the smile falling off her face as she stared at him in surprise. For a moment, she looked like the petrified one. 

Then, slowly, she gave a jerky nod, swallowing as she said. “Even… Even then.”

Mike let out a shaky breath. 

“… Are you?” She asked quietly. 

Mike shrugged. “I like David Bowie. And Top Gun.”

His mom frowned in confusion. 

“And—And I think I might like Will.”

For some reason, this did not seem to shock his mom the same way the other revelations had. Instead, her whole body seemed to sag with immediate understanding, her expression gentle, her eyebrows scrunching together in sympathy. 

“Oh, Mike.”

“Yeah, um.” And just like that, Mike broke down crying. 

“Oh dear,” his mom said mildly before Mike felt her arms come around him, pulling him close. “It’s okay, Mike. You’re okay.”

His mom held on, hugging him for several long minutes. It felt nice. It felt like some part of Mike was stitching itself back together. 

When he finally pulled away, both him and his mom had to wipe tears from their eyes, the two of them laughing a little at the strangeness of it all. 

“Phew,” his mom laughed, “That was…”

“Yeah. Sorry about that,” Mike said sheepishly.

“No, no, it was good. I needed that. And Mike?”

“Yeah?”

His mom looked at him resolutely, her voice firm as she said, “It’s okay to be gay. I don’t care what your father or that stupid radio station he listens to or what anyone else says. It’s okay. You’re okay.”

Mike chuckled. “I know, Mom. That’s—you know, it’s funny. That’s what Will said when I told him.”

“Really?” His mom perked up, seemingly intrigued. “You told him?”

Mike grimaced. “Sort of. I mean, I still have to talk to him. I kind of did it wrong the first time.”

“So, are you two…”

“No!” Mike said immediately. “Well…” he grew shy, a faint blush creeping onto his cheeks. “Not yet. But I think he might—I think there’s a chance? Maybe?”

His mom smiled, giving his shoulder a slight squeeze. “I think so too.”

Mike guffawed. “Mom!”

“Don’t fight with me now, Mike. I’ve known you two since you were babies. I’m entitled to my own opinion.”

Mike shook his head. “You’re being awfully… cool about all of this. Doesn’t it weird you out? I mean, you probably didn’t expect… all of this.”

“I didn’t expect the demon-gorgon to show up in my living room either. This is a very pleasant surprise by comparison.”

“Demogorgon, mom,” Mike sighed in exasperation. 

His mom waved a flippant hand. “Whatever.”

“No, not whatever. It’s from dnd. You should know the name. I’ve only told you about them twenty thousand times. It’s like you don’t even listen when I talk!” 

Mike had just said it to be a brat but he could see the way his mom’s face drooped a little. 

“Okay,” she said, “Tell me again then. I’m listening. I promise.”

“I—Really?”

“Really.”

Mike hadn’t meant to guilt-trip his mom into sitting through yet another dnd rant but he certainly wasn’t going to pass up the opportunity given to him. 

“Okay. So, first, we have to start with the basics,” Mike said excitedly, “You remember the classes, right?”

“Oh boy. This sounds like it’s going to take a while. Come on. You can walk and talk while we get groceries,” his mom said, getting out of the car. 

Mike followed eagerly after her. “So, the classes—wait, no. We should start with the species. Do you know what a Dragonborn is?”

Mike was still talking when they piled out of the car at their house, hauling the bags of groceries up the drive. 

“And we’d all totally forgotten that Lucas had gotten this potion off the barbarian in the woods—” Mike was saying animatedly only to stop short when he noticed the person standing on his front porch. 

“Will!” Mike exclaimed. He looked back at his mom as if to have her confirm that his best friend was really there. 

She just smiled amusedly before looking at Will and saying in a much calmer manner, “Hi, Will.”

“Hi, Mrs. Wheeler. Sorry to intrude. I was just dropping something off for Nancy. Jonathan is working tonight or else he would have done it himself.”

“You’re not intruding at all. How is Jonathan? Did he apply to NYU yet?”

“Yeah. On Monday. But we’re not allowed to talk about it, not until he gets his acceptance letter.”

Mike’s mom chuckled. “Well, we’re all rooting for him.” Then, she turned to Mike, giving him a look Mike couldn’t interpret. “Are you going to invite him to stay for dinner, Mike?”

“Oh!” Mike said, “Yeah, um, yeah. Do you want to?”

Will grinned. “Yeah, sure.”

“Cool.”

Mike led the way inside, setting the bags he was carrying on the counter before he grabbed Will by the arm and began to drag him up the stairs. 

“Dinner is in half an hour, boys!” Mrs. Wheeler called after them. 

Mike felt unreasonably giddy as he pulled Will into his room, closing the door behind them. He wondered if his mom would read into it, now that she knew how he felt about Will, but it was so much of a habit that Mike hadn’t realized what he’d done until he was already sitting, folded up on his bed, staring up at Will. 

“Must have been some grocery trip,” Will noted with an amused glint. 

“What?”

“You just came back from errands with your mom and you’re smiling.”

“So? I like hanging out with my mom.”

“Since when?” Will said incredulously. 

Mike shrugged. “Since now. Look. There’s something I need to talk to you about. I was talking with my mom, and it made me realize that I should probably come clean about something.”

“Come clean?” Will said, his face scrunching in confusion. 

“I lied. Before. Well, sort of. It’s complicated. Just—” Mike felt himself growing restless and gestured for Will to sit down on the bed next to him. “Sit down for a minute? Please?”

Will moved easily, sinking into the spot beside Mike. 

Mike drummed his fingers on his thigh, lasting approximately ten seconds before he was rocketing to his feet, abandoning Will to pace anxiously around his room. 

“Mike.”

“Mh?” Mike said absently. He walked over to the window, looking outside it and down the street. He didn’t know why he did that. That was weird. He looked at Will—bad idea—and quickly looked away again. 

“Mike, you’re freaking out,” Will said gently. 

“Yes, I—” Mike hissed before stopping short. He sighed. “I know.” He ran a hand through his hair, messing up the strands. “Just give me a minute. Okay?”

“Okay.”

Will didn’t sound the least bit concerned, which was probably fair. After over a decade of friendship, Will had probably learned to tell the difference between when Mike was freaking out over something important or when he was just needlessly stuck in his head about something. 

Mike figured, this time, it was a bit of both. 

“Okay. Okay!” He said like he was psyching himself up. He turned back, marching over to Will until he was standing in front of him. Will had to crane his neck up to look at him, and that didn’t feel right, so Mike dropped to his knees on the floor. He fell a little, having to place his hand on Will’s knee to keep himself upright. Will’s hands shot forward, ready to catch him. 

“Mike,” he laughed as Mike righted himself, looking up at Will with wide eyes, “What are you doing?”

“I-I don’t know. I didn’t want to be looking down at you. That felt weird.”

Will raised his eyebrows, amused. “And you couldn’t just sit down on the bed because…”

“Because…” That felt too intimate. Because I just realized I really like you. Like might be head over heels in love with you. Because I’m an idiot. 

“Mike,” Will said gently. 

“I can’t,” Mike blurted out, “Or I can, but I don’t want to. I’m sorry. I’m, like, properly freaking out right now.”

“I can see that,” Will said with a slight smile, “Do you… want to go for a walk? Would that help?”

“I… actually yeah,” Mike breathed, “Yeah, let’s do that.”

“Okay.” Will stood, helping Mike to his feet. Mike blushed when Will grabbed his hand, feeling suddenly cold when Will pulled away again.

Mike and Will made their way down the stairs, Mike shouting a quick explanation to his mom before dashing out the door. 

As they walked down the street, the fresh air washing over Mike, some of Mike’s nerves began to settle, not a lot, but enough for him to breathe, enough for him to think he might actually be able to string together a full sentence. 

Still, he waited a couple of more minutes, wanting to stay in this peaceful moment. 

Mike looked over at Will who was walking beside him, his hair slightly tousled by the wind. It was cloudy out now, the sky a light grey, but somehow, Will still seemed to shine, like Mike’s own personal sun. 

Mike’s stomach swooped. Then, Will looked over at him, and Mike quickly ducked his head, a faint blush creeping up on his cheeks.

“Okay, what is it,” Will said. 

Mike winced. His time for stalling was up. 

“Okay. I’ll tell you,” he said, “But first, you have to remember that I’m an idiot and that everything I’m about to say is going to come out wrong.”

“Alright,” Will said easily. 

Mike shot him a look. 

Will just smiled back at him, his eyes soft and inviting. “Mike, come on. It’s me. I know you.”

And Mike could hear the hidden message beneath his words. 

I understand you. 

Mike really hoped that was true. 

Taking a deep breath, he finally said, “I lied to you. Before.”

Will nodded. “You said.” Then. “What did you lie about exactly?”

“About being gay.”

Will stopped walking, his whole body tensing. 

“Wait! Wait, wait! Just give me a minute to explain. Please,” Mike said hastily. 

Will nodded stiffly, not looking at Mike and not moving either. He just stared at the patch of road beneath his feet like it was taking every ounce of his restraint not to freak out. 

“I heard you,” Mike said, “In this kitchen, with Jonathan.”

If possible, Will tensed even further. 

“And I heard you talking to him about how you couldn’t tell any of us—tell me—that you were gay. And—fuck, Will—you sounded so sad I couldn’t stand it. I couldn’t stand the thought that you felt like you couldn’t trust me with something, that you were scared of me,” Mike said desperately. 

Will looked up at him cautiously. He stared for a long moment before saying in a quiet voice, “That was weeks ago.”

“I know,” Mike said, “And I should have told you that’d I’d overheard but I wanted you to tell me first. I wanted you to trust me. So I came up with this crazy, stupid idea that if I came out to you first, you’d feel comfortable doing the same with me.”

Will’s mouth fell open into an ‘o’ as if several things suddenly made a lot more sense to him. 

“Except then you still thought I was homophobic—which really sucked—but maybe you were a little right because there was so much I didn’t know or that I got wrong. And I swear I’m not homophobic anymore, for real this time, because I love Robin and Vickie and you. I think you’re some of the best people I’ve ever met. I can’t imagine hating you, not for anything, especially not for something that isn’t even bad. But of course you already know that. You’re so much smarter than me, Will. I’ve been a real idiot lately and I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

Will continued to stare at Mike, processing. Then, his face darkened, not angry, just upset, maybe disappointed. 

“You shouldn’t have lied about being gay, Mike. I get that you were just trying to be a good friend, but do you know how much this sucks right now? Thinking for weeks that you—that we—and it was all just some lie? Because you, what, pitied me?”

Will looked back at the ground, something akin to heartbreak washing over his features, and Mike felt his heart lurch.

“What? No.” Mike said before slapping his forehead. “No, you’ve got it all wrong. I am gay.”

Will’s face spasmed. He looked back up, squinting at Mike. “What? But you just said—”

“Yeah, I was lying but I wasn’t really lying.”

“I’m confused.”

“Ugh.” Mike sighed. “I lied when I told you I was gay, but it was never really lying because it was true. I just didn’t know it yet.”

“So… you came out as gay before you knew you were gay?”

“Essentially, yeah.”

“I don’t believe you,” Will said. 

“What?” Mike exclaimed. “Why wouldn’t you believe me?”

“Mike, you just told me you’ve been lying to me for weeks!”

“Exactly! Why would I tell you that?”

“Because you’re an idiot?” Will deadpanned, crossing his arms over his chest. 

Mike flinched. “Yes, I know. I know. Trust me. But I’m not lying about this. I wouldn’t.”

“You literally just admitted that you would, that you have. Why should I believe anything you say? I’m not even sure I know what you’re trying to say right now!” Will said, flinging his hands up in the air. 

Mike reached forward, grabbing Will and shaking him by the shoulders. “I’m trying to tell you I have a crush on you, Will!”

Will reeled back, startled, mouth gaping. Then, he swallowed, his voice coming out hoarse as he said, “No.”

“Yes.”

“No. You—That’s not what you were saying before.”

“Well, I was working my way up to it,” Mike said sheepishly, his hands dropping off Will’s shoulders, “And I’m saying it now. I like you, Will. I really, really like you.”

He stared at Will, eyes imploring. 

“I’ve been thinking it over and I know that just because you’re gay doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to like me back, but I feel like you might. You like me… don’t you, Will?”

Suddenly, Will pivoted and started walking away, back down the street towards Mike’s house. 

“Hey, wait, Will! Where are you going?”

“I’m going home.”

“No, wait, come on, Will. Just let me explain. You promised you’d let me explain.”

“I think you’ve explained enough, Mike. You’re clearly confused. Or you’re just saying all of this because you think it’s what I want to hear, but it’s okay. You don’t need to do any of this, Mike. I’ll get over it. I’ll be fine. So just—”

“Come on, Will. Don’t be an idiot.”

Will’s head snapped to look at Mike. He glared at him, still power walking like his anger wouldn’t let him do anything else. “I’m not an idiot,” he growled. 

“No, I know. Just think about it, Will. These last few weeks. I know it couldn’t have just been me. You felt it too,” Mike said, keeping up with him. 

At that, Will’s expression faltered for half a second before he snapped his gaze forward again, resolute, unmoving.

“Alright. Fine. You want evidence? That time in my bedroom, when I touched your neck,” Mike started and he could see the way Will’s face flushed red, his eyes glazing over at the memory, his pace slowing, just a little, “I was so nervous. I’d never wanted to be close to someone like that, to touch them the way I was touching you.”

Will shuddered. 

“Then, we went to the drive-in with Robin and Vickie, and I found myself wanting to touch you again. I couldn’t get it out of my head. I just—I wanted you.” Mike’s voice cracked. “And it felt so damn nice, being with you and Robin and Vickie. I felt like I didn’t have to hide anymore. Like if I did get the courage to touch you, it’d be alright.”

“Then, Robin had to ask about stupid celebrity crushes, and—and I realize now that the reason I was able to answer her at all was because it was how I felt. There are some guys… that I… find attractive. Like in a gay way.”

Mike peaked over at Will again. They were walking slowly now, Will’s eyes still locked on the road in front of him, but his full attention was on Mike.

“I think everything changed though when you kissed me.”

Will choked. 

“I know it was supposed to be a joke or whatever, but it didn’t feel like one, at least not to me. God, Will,” Mike sighed, “I thought I was going to explode in that bathroom. When you touched me, when I felt your lips on my stomach…”

“Okay, I get it,” Will squeaked. 

“I wish you would kiss every inch of me.”

Will whirled around to look at him, his eyes impossible wide and his chest heaving, a bright red flush staining the tops of his cheeks—something that Mike knew had nothing to do with the wind. 

“You… You don’t mean that,” Will whispered. 

Mike’s eyes darkened. “Why not? Would you prefer I didn’t? Would you prefer I liked Owen instead?”

It was mean, he knew, but Mike was growing desperate. He needed Will to understand. Plus, he couldn’t deny the small thrill he felt go down his spine when Will sent him a hard look, like he wanted to pin Mike to a wall—Mike would totally let him, if he wanted that. 

“You’re such an ass,” Will muttered. 

“So are you—for making me flirt with someone else when I already had the prettiest person on the planet going to the movies with me.”

That time, Will really did grab Mike, though there wasn’t any wall for him to shove Mike against, so he just held him, their frantic breaths intermingling where they stood on the side of the road. 

Anyone could look out their window and see them there, but Mike didn’t care. He didn’t care about anything in the world except the boy right in front of him. 

“Stop talking,” Will said harshly. 

“Do you believe me yet?”

Will shook his head, though it wasn’t really in answer to Mike’s question. “You drive me fucking crazy, you know that?”

“And what do you think you do to me?” Mike shot back, “I’ve been going insane over you for weeks, Will! I came out to my mom!”

Will’s hold on him loosened, his face turning stupefied. For a long beat, Will just stood there, frozen in shock. 

“You—what?”

Mike bit his lip. Then, he threw his head back and groaned. “God, this is so embarrassing. I—I might’ve lost it with my mom earlier. I went on this whole rant about how she should just divorce my dad because they clearly don’t love each other.”

“Jesus,” Will breathed. 

“I know. I know. But it’s true! You know it is!” Mike defended, “And I told her—I told her I was scared of turning out like her—sad and alone and too cowardly to do anything about it. Because before I overheard you in the kitchen with Jonathan, the only thing I could picture for my future was working some dead end job, married to some girl I tolerate, with two and a half kids and just, like, no light in my eyes. And that fucking terrified me! But I still didn’t do anything about it! And I didn’t tell anyone because I thought—” Mike choked “—I thought that was all I was allowed to have.”

Mike’s hands came up, wrapping around Will’s which were still loosely holding onto the front of his shirt. Will flinched, but Mike held firm, not allowing him to draw back.

“I told my mom that I liked you,” Mike said softly, “And she wasn’t even surprised. She told me she thought you might like me too, so I thought, if even my mom thinks so, that maybe there’s hope. Maybe there’s a chance.”

Mike held onto Will’s gaze, eyes soft and just the tiniest bit terrified. 

“So? Is there?”

“Is there what?” Will whispered. 

“A chance.”

“I don’t know,” Will murmured, looking conflicted, “Do you… Do you mean it? Do you really—”

“Yeah, I do.”

“Okay.”

“Okay?” Mike asked, “Okay, what?”

“Prove it,” Will said, looking at Mike’s lips. 

Mike’s breath hitched. “Will… we’re… we’re in the middle of the street. People could see—”

“I know,” Will said, his voice tight, “But I think I might die if you don’t kiss me right now.” 

“Shit,” Mike said. 

Their lips smashed together, the two of them leaning in at the same time, hungry and desperate. It was a long, hard press of lips, Will gripping onto Mike’s shirt while Mike’s hands found his waist, his fingers digging into the skin between the waistband of Will’s pants and the hem of his shirt. 

Will pulled back a couple of seconds later and Mike whined, frowning as his chin tilted forward, trying to recapture Will’s lips. 

“Mike,” Will said breathlessly, “We can’t.”

“We literally just did.”

“I know, but we shouldn’t. People—”

“Fuck other people. I don’t care. Please, Will, let me show you how much I don’t care. I’ll—I’ll—I’ll kiss you in front of my dad!”

Will’s face scrunched up. “Please don’t.”

“I would.”

“I know you would, that’s why I’m asking you not to,” Will said seriously, “And for that matter, no kissing in front of anyone, not until we’re sure they wouldn’t start a local smear campaign over it.”

“So, basically, what I’m hearing is that I can kiss you in front of Robin and Vickie and Dustin and Lucas and Jonathan and your mom and my mom and—”

“Jesus, Mike! No! That is not what I said!” Will said emphatically, looking both horrified and a little amazed. “What has gotten into you?”

“I’ve been bitten,” Mike said with a wicked smile, “By Cupid.”

Will groaned. “It’s shot by Cupid, you dumbass.”

“I’ve been bitten by you,” Mike restated. 

“No, you have not.”

“Ugh, Will,” Mike huffed, “I’m trying to be romantic here!”

Will burst out laughing. “Oh is that what that was? I thought you might’ve been having a stroke.”

Mike reeled Will in, nudging their noses together. “Maybe you give me a stroke.”

“Mike!” Will crowed through tears of laughter, “You’re hopeless!”

“You mean, hopelessly charming?”

Will shook his head, grinning widely from ear to ear. 

“Hopelessly handsome?” Mike tried. 

Will just shook his head again.

“Hopelessly… in love with you?”

A giggle tumbled past Will’s lips, surprised, his eyes shining. “I love you too, Mike.”

Mike lit up. “Yeah?”

Will nodded. “Yeah.”

“Great! I mean, yeah. That’s cool.” Mike swallowed. 

“You’re so cute,” Will said. Then, he ducked forward, pressing a quick kiss against Mike’s lips, so quick in fact that Mike didn’t even realize what was happening until it was over. 

Then, Will was pulling back completely, untangling himself from Mike. 

“Come on. We have to get back for dinner.”

“I don’t want to. Let’s just tell my mom we’re sick and go make out in my room,” Mike whined, trailing after Will. 

Will guffawed. “Absolutely not. We’re going to have a nice family dinner and then, we’re going to rewatch Poltergeist. And then we’re going to go back to your room and—” 

Will tugged Mike’s arm so that he leaned in closer, reaching his hand up to cup Mike’s ear as he whispered something that had Mike blushing bright red from his hairline down to the tips of his toes. 

Will pulled back to check the damage with a self-satisfied smile. 

“Sound good?”

Mike nodded rapidly. “Yeah,” he squeaked, his voice cracking as it pitched two octaves too high, “Yeah, definitely.”

The two continued walking back towards Mike’s house, Mike’s mind oscillating between shock and a tremendous amount of joy. 

Oh my god, his mind seemed to echo, Oh my god. Will likes me. Will Byers actually likes me. 

Then, another thought came to him, and Mike turned to look at Will with a slight frown. 

“Hey,” he said, “I just realized something.”

“What?”

“You never actually came out to me.”

“Oh my god, seriously?” Will said with a roll of his eyes before looking at Mike with a deadpan expression. “I’m gay, Mike.”

Mike smiled. Then, softly, he said, “Thanks for telling me, Will.”

Will’s expression melted. He reached over, lightly shoving Mike’s shoulder. “Hey, don’t you have something you’d like to tell me too?”

“Oh. Yeah. I’m gay too.”

Will smiled. “Cool. Maybe we could…”

“Be gay together?” Mike finished. 

Will chuckled. “Yeah. I mean, if you want to.”

Mike drifted a little closer to Will so that their shoulders brushed with every step they took and he hooked his pinky around Will’s, feeling a sense of immeasurable relief at the small contact. 

Will let out a shaky breath, and Mike was sure he felt it too. 

The two looked at each other and didn’t need to say anything else. They knew. 

Everything was okay.