Chapter Text
Will had made it to the highrise, luxury apartment complex within half an hour after getting out of his desk job. Late for a dinner date. Again.
The walk was brisk enough to let him feel the chill of late summer as it started to dip into chillier climate as fall approached quicker than usual. It cooled the small beads of sweat off his forehead from speed walking all the way there. The subway would take him almost double the time with all of the people using it at this hour, and exercise was definitely needed after so long at a desk.
Carlton met him at the door after three out of six of his usual knocks.
His boyfriend was a taller man compared to Will, so he had to practically look up at him when he wanted to look him in the eye. Carlton had dark brown hair that curled at his ears, swept to the side. Deep brown eyes, a square jaw, and skin that was tanner than Will's.
The muscles rippled in his tight black shirt when he opened the door. Compared to Will's white shirt and lean but not bulky physique, they were almost total opposites.
Will smiled up at him shyly and Carlton let his face turn up from a surprised scowl into something slightly warmer as he regarded Will.
"Hi babe. You're late."
"I know, I'm sorry. Work is trying to kill me."
Carlton wrapped his large arms around Will's waist. Will stood on his tip toes to push their bodies together in a tight hug. He rested his cheek near Carlton's collarbone and breathed in the familiar scent of tobacco and oak cologne.
"I'm sorry for snapping on the phone when you called," Carlton murmored into his hair. The arms tightened around his waist in an apologetic manner.
Will only nodded in response, a silent it's fine.
Carlton moved away, touching Will's cheek softly, before opening the door wider, motioning for him to come inside. "Just let me know earlier next time, yeah? So I can keep dinner warm. Bacteria grows the longer it sits."
Will sighed out an "Okay" as he stepped inside.
The apartment smelled delicious, like oregano and garlic. Two of Will's favorite smells. It reminded him of Hawkins, in a good way, when his mom would have weekly spaghetti nights.
The apartment was nice, chic, expensive in its own way. Meticulously kept clean and almost sterile in nature, like someone didn't even live there. Pure white light instead of golden ambiance. It held two actual bedrooms and a large bathroom with a tub. The cabinets weren't crumbling and the countertops didn't peel apart like Will's did.
It was a luxury Will never really cared for, but Carlton paid top dollar for it. A mix of his family's money along with his own earnings from being a bouncer down the road for a club.
The walls were baren of any sort of art. Sometimes Will thought Carlton was some sort of psychopath in a small way, without anything to make the home feel lived in. Memories, art, maybe even a sign that says man cave. Nothing.
After dating for over two years, Will has come to accept the fact that Carlton is simple.
Sometimes way too simple.
He set his satchel down on the textured granite contertop and leaned over it as he watched Carlton begin to scoop servings of their dinner into bright decorative bowls, along with tossing a fluffy looking salad.
The wine bottle came out next from a caddy next to the fridge, and Will couldn't help but feel relieved about the presence of alcohol. Not that he was an alcoholic like Lonnie, but more so he enjoyed the subtle calm a simple glass would give him.
"How was work?" Carlton asked.
Will slumped a little onto the counter, he fiddled with his white collared shirt, that fit a little too snug at his shoulders, while the other hand traced the swirling pattern of the fine granite. "Fine. Another long day."
Carlton chuckled lightly. "If they keep up those 60 hour work weeks, you're going to drop dead from exhaustion, babe."
Will tilted his head back and groaned loudly. "64 this week. I know. It's like three years later only gives you the work of the people who don't do their shit properly."
"You get raises," Carlton pointed out, "and overtime."
"Yeah, just wish I wasn't the only one putting in all the work while others jerk off in the bathroom."
There was a small pause and then a light huff. "I really hope you mean that sarcastically."
Will snorted. "I wish."
"Ew."
"Yepp."
"Well, to help you relax, I rented a movie for tonight. That to the future one you like. I was thinking after dinner we could, you know, watch it. Go to bed. That kind of thing," Carlton said casually with his back still turned to him.
Will smiled tiredly and made his way to sit at the two-person table just outside the kitchen. He let his body sink into the cushioned chairs. Will nodded his thanks as Carlton set down a plate of spaghetti with garlic bread. The ends were cut off just like Will liked it. Then a moment later, a bowl of salad with silverware.
"Sorry, babe. I have to go pack tonight, I kept putting it off," Will said as he twirled his spaghetti. He considered it rude to eat without the other person, so he stilled his fork as he waited to keep away the temptation to shove it in his mouth.
When Carlton finally sat down, he passed the expensive looking bottle of wine to Will.
Will happily grabbed the bottle and let the dark liquid fill his crystal glass to the very top, not leaving any room.
Carlton regarded Will wrly over a bite of garlic bread as he sat down across from him. "Babe, that's not how you drink wine."
Will smiled and rolled his eyes as he finally took a big bite. "Wine is meant to be drank, not measured."
"It's meant to be poured almost halfway," Carlton sighed a laugh.
With a surge of humor, and a little bit of rebellion, Will took the glass and began to swig the entire glass down. It burned but he kept at it, ignoring the way it almost came back up. When he winced at the burn, but satisfied with the emptiness of the glass, he picked up the bottle and poured more into it, to the almost half way line.
Scruffy eyebrows were raised to the hairline as he watched the entire thing happen. "That's... Wow, Will. Okay."
"What? You said almost halfway, I'm just fixing the problem."
"Doesn't mean get drunk off the first glass."
"I won't get drunk," Will insisted. Though his head already felt a little foggy and his stomach burned in that familiar way. He wouldn't say that out loud, though.
Carlton only shook his head in a slightly smug manner. "You're gonna be puking or dancing on the table in... I'd say, half an hour."
"Nope," he popped the P. Will was then determined to prove him wrong and brought the glass back to his lips playfully.
A hand stopped him with a husky laugh. "Okay, okay. You beat me, please take it easy on the wine."
Will brightened in triumph and turned his attention back to the pasta that called to him.
"So, movie tonight, yeah?"
The slurp that left his mouth involuntarily from a long noodle made him grimace but he quickly shook it off. "Nope. I have to pack. I leave tomorrow at 6am sharp."
"Good thing you drank all that wine, then."
Will choose to ignore the dry comment as he shoved more pasta into his mouth. It felt fantastic on his wine filled, empty stomach. Painting usually took his attention away from basic needs, so this was actually the best.
A small silence of chewing and small clinks of silverware filled the quiet home. Again, a contradiction from Will, who normally had music of some form playing, but it wasn't abnormal in the sheek place. A white gloved silence.
"I don't think you should go."
Will's fork was halfway in his mouth when he stopped. He slowly raised his eyes in a small squint, placing the fork down lightly.
The slightly gruff man was poking away at his salad, completely unaware of the bristle that was currently going down Will's spine. The casualness of the comment made Will immediately defensive.
"What?" Will finally asked, tongue poking his cheek.
"I don't think you should go on that annual camping trip."
"No, I heard that, why do you say that?"
"Just, you know," Carlton shrugged. He took a big swig from his wine before turning his attention to Will's eyes.
The eyes that once held so much light at the beginning of their relationship seemed dimmer these days. Not that Will enjoyed dwelling on people’s flaws, quite the opposite, really. Will was a lover at heart. But some things were harder to forgive than others.
"I'm going," Will finally said, shoving another piece of pasta that was covered in the cheap store-bought brand sauce. The cooking wasn't something he'd comment on, it was food, and it was appreciated with the effort. "We go every year."
Carlton sighed heavily and leaned back in his chair. Arms folded against his chest as he regarded Will.
"Why? Why do you guys have to do this every year? They could all get a hotel room in the city, you stay here or at home. Hell, we could have them over for dinner and parties. I don't understand why you have to leave for an entire week."
Will raised his eyebrows and chewed harder as he filled his cheeks with more pasta. It was kind of an aggressive move, he knew, but his skin started to prickle in annoyance.
How was he supposed to tell his boyfriend of two years that they had a Fuck You Vecna celebration every year since his demise? How was he supposed to tell him he almost died - did die - along with his friends, multiple times because of something called exotic matter mirroring the worlds to let in an interdimensional being who was hell-bent on consuming the planet? How was he supposed to tell them they all swore to keep the location secret from outsiders so they could be free to celebrate? How was he supposed to share that his step sister had actual super powers?
It wasn't worth the hassle.
No one would understand.
Or maybe Will had more trust issues than he was willing to face.
"No. We have to do the camping trip outside any cities."
Carlton sighed again and wiped his face, an annoyed gestured he hand learned all too well when his boyfriend didn't immediately get what he wanted.
Will sighed louder in an annoyed way and let his eyes wander around the blank walls of Carlton's apartment. If he lived there, it would send him into hysterics.
Not that the conversation never came up, but Will was comfortable in his own place for the time being.
Carlton was his first actual boyfriend. The first one ever. The first to actually take his hand and let him fall freely. Dates and sex, good days, bad days. Their connection was undeniable from their first meeting.
Will loves him. It was just confusing sometimes, considering everything. His mantra had quietly become love is weird.
"Your car is a second away from falling apart," Carlton offered out quietly.
Will pointed his last fork full of pasta in his direction, careful not to let it fall on the white table cloth. "I'll have you know the mechanic gave me a thumbs up for a 35 hour drive."
"You have to take a week off work..."
"That's a good thing. You know that marketing job kills me," he rebuttled.
Carlton clicked his tongue. "You'll be away from me for an entire week."
Will didn't answer that one, just continued to chew and eye him warily.
"I just don't get it."
"I don't think you ever could. It's just something we have to do."
Will ducked his head as finished his food in record speed, getting up to walk into the kitchen. He dumped his dishes into the sink with a force he knew he shouldn't.
"I forbid it."
Will stilled as he watched the dishes sink into the soapy water of a pot, his fingers thrummed on the wet edge in silent thought.
Then he turned around slowly to face him.
"Forbid it?" He challenged, crossing his arms against his chest. The back of the counter cut into his lower back but he didn't care. "You had no issue with it yesterday, or the day before, or even when we first started dating. The night before I leave and you suddenly have an issue with it?"
"Yes, I forbid it, Will. I mean, what the fuck?"
The calm demeanor had finally snapped, the ice broken, and Will hated to say he was almost expecting it.
"Who goes camping in the middle of nowhere with friends I've never met? You won't even tell me where you're going! It doesn't sit well with me."
Will bristled further. "It's something we do as friends. It means something to us. Only us. And this is the first year Mike is actually coming along with us. He's finally able to after we've been begging him to join for years. It's going to be fun."
"A guy you once had a crush on, Will. The guy I graciously let you speak to on the phone every week?"
Will bit his cheek and nodded along, the wine was definitely making an appearance in his brain.
"Now he's going on the trip too? Doesn't that sound weird to you?"
Will scoffed loudly. "Oh!" His head lulled back as he tried rein himself back in, feeling his control start down a slippery slope he knew too well. His eyes traveled along the barren ceiling as he bit his cheek harder, then came back down to Carlton's glare. "So that's what this is about. Mike?"
"Yes, that's what this is about. All of it is weird."
"Does Felix sound weird to you?"
Carlton was the one to scoff this time. "Okay." He slowly stood from his chair and walked over the alabaster tiles towards the sink. The water sprayed up as he dropped his bowls heavily into the soaking pot.
"Or, I don't know, how about Morgan," Will slid to the side slightly to give him room. He then held out his fingers, dramatically counting them, his voice rising in frustration with each one. "Eric. Lawrence. Nathan. Sebastian..." Will laughed sardonistically. "Little Mo with the gimpy leg. Al, Boney Bob, Cliff. I could go on forever, baby," Will sneered.
The wine definitely had gone to his head. It shot his patience to the point where he was now quoting Home Alone without a second thought.
Carlton flickered his eyes over Will's face with pursed lips. "It was only one person, Will, you know that."
Will poked his throbbing cheek with his tongue. "Sometimes I wonder."
Carlton shook his head, curls falling into his eyes before he pushed the strands to the side. "Don't put things out there that aren't true. And we're past that. Or at least I thought we were."
"I'm totally over you screwing around with my friend at the club. My first friend when I finally came out of my shell in this city. The one I used to call after a bad day at work and we would just go out and have a blast? One who knew Betty, too..." Will's eyes watered for a moment before he steeled himself. "I didn't get it then and I still don't get it now."
"I said I was sorry, Will."
A gush of air left his lungs as Carlton came closer, a small bit of guilt rising within him suddenly. Will pinched the the space between his eyebrows.
Love is definitely weird.
"You're right," he sighed. "You did. Many times. We're working through it. But you literally wouldn't have to worry about anything with Mike."
"Is that right?"
"Yeah. Mike is straight. And he is my best friend."
"I was straight I until I met you," Carlton's eyes flickered down Will's body subtly. "But you guys talk every week on the phone. There's obviously still something there."
Will shook his head in sad amusement he hoped looked like non-chalants. "Nope. Nothing. We're best friends, like I said."
"Then why do you paint him?"
Will's breath caught and his eyes widened as he regarding Carlton carefully. "Have you been... Going through my stuff?"
He only shrugged. Another casual thing that was grating at Will's nerves further.
"Duh, Will. I'm your boyfriend. I worry."
"So your worry constitutes your need to go through my private stuff?" Will pushed, irritation lacing back into his voice.
That was his own collection under the desk in Carlton's spare room, it held more than just Mike Wheeler inspired paintings, but it was personal. It was his own box. It has now been violated, tainted by the judgement of someone else.
"Yes. It's my house."
"Yes? Okay... You sound like a lunatic. I'm allowed to let my artistic nature flow. They're not all him."
"But none of them are of me."
Will let his eyes finally meet Carlton's. Beneathe Will's building, there was a small bit of hurt he could feel through the gaze they shared. It made Will's heart ache as much as he tried to remain strong.
"I've painted you, Carl," Will let out weakly.
Carlton smiled crookedly, almost sadly. "No... No you don't." Then it changed into a slight grimace. "Your boyfriend of two years is second best to this Mike Wheeler who you used to have a crush on and are currently going to go on a camping trip with."
Will rolled his eyes this time. He was so done with this conversation. "Whatever."
Carlton tensed at the disrespectful movement and crossed his arms against his large chest. "Yeah, whatever, Will. Go on your trip. I'm not happy about it but I guess I can't stop you."
"Good."
Carlton shifted slightly in his stance. "Are you going to stay for a movie?"
"I already said no."
"Okay," he nodded slowly, seemingly defeated. "Can I have a kiss?"
Will fixed him with an incredulous stare. "No, Carlton."
Carlton dropped his arms and Will winced with the sudden movement.
"Will, you haven't kissed me in six months, let alone touched me. Are we even still a couple at this point? You got tested, we're both clean. We're working through our issues. What is the big deal?"
"The big deal is I still don't trust you."
"Then why are you still with me? Are you so afraid of being alone that you can't leave me? Jesus Christ, Will. Just put me out of my misery if that's the case!"
"Carl, I love you, it's just -"
Carlton grabbed his hand and brought it to his face to kiss it lightly. "I miss you. I miss us."
It should've been endearing. It should've had Will leaning into the touch. It should've had him saying something stupid and sweet like they used to do. Will didn't know if it was the wine inside of him and the loss of inhibitions, or the past resentment that still burned at the pit of his stomach, but it rose like bile in his throat.
"I bet you miss Felix too," Will spat out, aware that his voice carried the venom that stung, but unable to help his own hurt from shining through. "Or maybe Sebastian. Hard to know who you've been inside of."
Carltons eyes darkened before he dropped his hands, and then he extended his arms to the front door. "Please leave, then."
Will stood straighter as he stared Carlton in the eye. "You're so concerned about something happening out there while there are bigger issues between us in here... and they're not even my fault."
Will grabbed his satchel with anger and made his way to the front door.
Before Will could turn the doorknob, he could feel the swoosh of the sterile air rush against him.
"Will."
Carlton was suddenly behind him, mouth against his ear, the heat rolled off of him in an unsettling wave that made his skin prickle. Carlton slid his large hands up Will's arms, landing on the upper muscles.
"I love you," his garlic and wine breath almost assaulted Will's nose.
The fingers around his bicep buzzed against his skin. Will took in a quick inhale from his nose.
"Be safe."
Then before he could answer back, Carlton's presence was gone. The sound of a telephone tapped against was loud in the quiet.
"Hey!" Carlton said animatedly.
Will took a deep breath and remained still for only a moment before swinging the door open wide and letting it shut behind him, unable to pay anymore attention to the happy sounding man talking to God knows who. He walked briskly through the run-down hallway, hoping the outside air would help him calm his racing heart down.
Yepp. It's going to be a long week.
He sighed as he stepped out onto the lit up sidewalks of Brooklyn.
"I need to pack," he told himself as he made his way through the empty streets. "Just need to pack."
Will sat at the edge of his bed looking at the piles of clothes laid out before him.
"I forbid it," he mocked out loud. "Whatever."
The familiarity of his home was comforting. Paintings and drawings littered his walls and ceilings like his own personal graffiti hall. The small refurbished lamp beside his bed created a golden hue throughout the small studio apartment. There were a couple hand-made mugs on the counter drying from his earlier washing.
The bathroom was his favorite part, it always had been.
It didn't have a tub, but the water pressure was insane. He had decorated it with colorful accents of rainbows and jewels he'd find here or there, like a collection of lost things. He loved it so much he hadn't changed it in three years, only adding to the sparkling gemstones or miscellaneous items on the walls each time he'd see one. The white flouerescnts of the bathroom twinkled off each and every one when he'd turn on the light.
It was like his own personal party, and his landlord will hate him when he finally moves out.
There was no TV and the only thing sitting on the two-person bar kitchen counter was a boom box and his satchel. There was no room for a couch, but Will only slept and ate there. He'd rather a big bed then a couch.
Will lived simply besides his decorations and art, and Will was content for now.
It was small, but it was his home.
He sighed and rubbed a hand down his face hard, trying to shake off the earlier argument in Carlton's apartment. Taking another look at the clothes, he sighed again. And again. And again. Until he was laying on top of them in frustration.
"What the hell do I even pack? Shirts... Shorts. Sandals." Packing was always his least favorite part about these trips. "Toothbrush. Toothpaste. Um..."
He popped his lips together, staring at the bottle of lube on his bedside table. Staring at it intensely for a long time, he finally decided to let his hand slide into his pants, resting on top of his soft dick. He closed his eyes and let his brain wander around some fantasies.
"Maybe just a little stress relief and we'll be able to think better," he laughed to himself as he felt himself swell underneath his fingers.
Before long, the clothes were forgotten about, laying beneathe his body as a small drip of sweat curled down his forehead in his marathon.
He let out loud, broken moan into the small confines of his apartment as his hand slid over his lubed up cock with ease. He teased himself as he gently stroked up and down, then let his fingers trail down the hard length for long moments. It sent tingles down his spine each pass.
Switching up his rhythm, he teased the head with his palm for a moment before returning to long strokes.
"F-fuck," he whimpered as he bit his lip. Something about the slight pain always got him right in that blissful headspace.
The other hand gripped the curve of his neck, letting his fantasies take him under the darkness of his eyelids.
Will groaned out as his orgasm started to peak. It was right there, right where he was about to go over the edge. Heat flooded his face as he went right to the cliff, right where he knew he could jump and feel ultimately satisfied.
Then he stopped, probably for the sixth time so far since he'd started.
He gasped in delayed pleasure while gripping his base tightly, the hot coiling that had built up remained at bay, but his throbbing cock twitched impatiently in his hand as he controlled himself.
Taking a shaky breath, he opened his eyes and stared down at his swollen head. It was beaded with new pre-cum, and it started to mix in with exorbitant amount of lube he liked to use on himself. His jeans and yellow boxers rode up high on his thighs. The smell of his own musk had him licking his lower lip in anticipation.
Edging was his favorite thing to do while masturbating. That small bit of control only he had. Stop, go, stop, go. Being teased to the point of begging was his favorite thing in his fantasies, so it made sense that edging came hand in hand.
It was frustrating, it was exhausting, and it was hot in the best way. Hot enough for Will to do it more often than he'd like to admit out loud. To anyone. Ever.
When he waited long enough, he started his pumping with a renewed fevor, climbing the peak so fast it made his head spin. His whines started to bounce off the walls and his toes curled tightly in.
He threw his head back against the pillow with his mouth wide open in a silent moan, about to crash into his impending orgasm. His over-worked hand starting to stutter in its pace as he arched his back off of his bed, ready to cover himself in a much needed release. Without missing a beat he pulled his white collared shirt up past his chest, anticipation growing just as fast as his orgasm.
Then his phone rang.
And if Will knew anything about the universe, it was that it hated him with a passion.
"Oh my god," he groaned as he bit his lip harder, this time in annoyance. It was almost too perfect of timing. He huffed heavily before swallowing dryly. "It'll go to the recording," he said roughly. "It's fine."
Will waited impatiently for the obnoxious ringing to stop and go to voicemail. It didn't. The machine stopped before it started recording.
He sighed and started to move his fist once again, building back up quickly, just needing to come at this point.
It was moments like these that Will was glad he didn't have roommates.
The sounds of his hand hitting his lubed base bounced off the close walls and the speed was enough to put him right back at the edge. His breath stuttered and his eyes rolled back hard before he slammed them shut, seeing those squiggly lines inside his eyelids.
A loud gasp left his lips as he started muttering in a higher pitch. "R-right there... Fuck. Fu-"
The phone rang again. This time it sounded louder, more incessant, like it knew it couldn't be ignored with a second cadence.
Will was halfway tempted to rip it out of the wall.
His eyes flew open as he snatched the receiver from his bedside table with frustration with his dry hand. The phone itself almost slipped out of his hand from the lube he slicked himself with, but he gripped it tighter and shoved it against his ear.
"What?" He snapped with a heavy breath.
"Will!"
Fuck...
His breath hitched. "Oh, uh, hi Mike."
A blush spread across his cheeks as he ripped his other hand away from his throbbing cock. If there was anything he knew far too well is that Mike's voice did things to him. He couldn't be holding himself while talking. Nope. Not today. He quickly yanked his boxers up in a strange form of respect, even if no one could see him.
Cardinal rule, you don't masturbate to your friend's voice. Or friends in general. Best friends. Ugh. That tower moment plagued his dreams even five years later, he didn't need another thing to feel guilty about.
"Are you ready for your trip tomorrow?"
Will sighed in resignation as he felt his boner starting to slightly fade. It only took him half an hour to get to this point, a few more minutes wouldn't hurt his work. He was edging himself, afterall. It almost worked out in his favor.
He steadied his breathing as best he could before speaking. "Yeah, yeah. Of course."
"You okay? You sound a little winded."
"Yeah, I'm fine. Just packing is all."
Will took in a deep breath held in, counting to five, before letting it expel shakily. He can do this.
"Are you, or are you lying and actually just painting something instead?"
Will chuckled. "Sure. Painting."
"Don't paint all night. You have to drive 35 hours to get there. I still don't understand why you're taking your car, a plane and rental car are so much easier and saves a ton of money."
Will twirled the chord in his hand as he stared up at the expanse of his bedroom ceiling, covered in years of drawings and paintings he had stuck up there.
"Actually, that's more expensive. Plus I'd rather see some sights."
Mike scoffed on the other line. "I get the sights thing. But there's no way it's more expensive to do a plane and rental car."
"Yeah, I actually did the math, it's only a couple hundred for a round trip while if I did a round plane trip and a rental car, it'll run me into the thousands."
"Oh... I guess I didn't actually do the math. I guess I'm just worried about you driving so far by yourself. Are you sure Carlton doesn't want to come with you?"
Will bristled slightly. "No, he has to work, and it's just our Party, remember?"
"Okay, cool," Mike said quickly. "I just worry is all. I am really excited, though. It's finally my turn to domino effect my way into the Fuck You, Vecna parties, huh?"
Will let a wide smile play at his lips. "Finally. Only took you five years."
"Work and school have been crazy. Let's see... First it was just you and Max. Then Lucas joined. Then El. Then Dustin. Now me. I think that is cause for celebration."
It did take them a while to get everyone on board.
At first Max and Will got together after the first six months from graduation to get absolutely obliterated. Then Lucas came the next year. Then it started to trickle down and they made bigger plans for the next time. Eventually it became a yearly anniversary party where they gathered by the fire somewhere no one could hear them and shouted into the night sky Fuck You, Vecna and their own reasons why they hated him so much. Let it all out with a fire crackling, beers or weed in hand, dancing like lunatics.
If someone saw them, it'd probably be a new-aged witch hunt making the front lines of the paper.
Will designed the banner for it every year.
Which he had to hide from Carlton. Which was difficult in his small studio, but he found ways. Usually it was stuffed under his bed with his more private paintings.
Will made a mental note to move his other stash in Carlton's apartment when he got back.
"Yeah? What kind of celebration?"
"Well, I was thinking some ecstasy."
Will choked out a laugh. "Mike, what? That's kind of a hard drug... and isn't that like super illegal?"
Mike laughed loudly, his throat catching the vibrations that made Will smile wider in return. "Oh, come on. It's the feel good drug, and we all smoke pot and the legality never stopped us there, right?"
Will nodded even though no one could see him. "Okay, yeah, that makes sense. Where did you even get it? Don't tell me you're a drug dealer now. A week without me and you turn to dealing drugs from your backpack. I can see it now."
"Well, maybe if we talked more I'd stay out of trouble. But I promise I still work at that shitty coffee place when I'm not face first into my typewriter. Paladin's honor. I just went to a party recently and got a bug up my ass to take the stash of 6 left."
Will rolled his eyes before wiping the lines of sweat off his forehead that were starting to annoy him. "That's oddly convenient that you only took six when there's six of us in the party... careful about stealing. They're going to send their Seattle Mob after you."
"They can try, but I'll be high tailing it in two days to a different state anyways."
"True."
There was a comfortable silence as Will settled further into his bed.
"It's been way too long since I've seen you, Will. I really fucking miss you."
The sincerity in his voice has Will's little heart skipping. He tried to bury it under a breathy laugh. "I really fucking miss you too, Mike."
It was always a missed opportunity and the way of life.
After the defeat of Vecna, the party went their separate ways.
Will went to community college and got a piece of paper. It helped him land a marketing job in New York with absolutely insane hours.
Dustin and El moved to Florida under an internship promise for Dustin, and a casino job El eventually ended up loving. Max and Lucas left to California, he taught basketball after college at their local highschool and Max got really into accounting for some reason. Joyce and Hopper moved to Montauk to live a more peaceful life than interdimensional events.
Mike took the opportunity to travel abroad for two whole years after graduation. He would call every once in a while from a random pay phone or shabby hotel, but for long stretches of time, it was radio silence because of how pricey it was to call internationally. Will sometimes had to steel himself for the fact Mike might not want to come home.
Eventually he did, but he moved to Seattle with Nancy and Jonathan, picking college up, working full time, and writing a novel. It was his own way of catching back up to life.
Their lives were always pretty busy, but they made sure to keep in contact after he came home. A whopping three years without seeing his best friend wore on him, but Will knew there were much worse things than distance, considering they had all escaped death numerous times.
Will saved his sick time and paid time off just for small trips to Montauk, but also for this special week. Since Mike is finally joining, finding the time after three years of his return, it finally felt aligned for the first time since they all left Hawkins.
The entire party to finally reunite.
Will could cry.
"I know we talk on the phone once a week, it's just different. Five years is a really long time. I miss my best friend."
"We saw each other once -"
"Three years ago. For five minutes before you had to catch your flight to New York."
"I know. Life got in the way, huh?" Will swallowed back the tears that threatened his eyes suddenly. "It'll be a great week though."
"You bet!"
Will smiled into the silence of his apartment, feeling like a giddy school girl for absolutely no reason.
"So, hey, Will?"
"Uh-huh?"
"Don't forget to pack everything, Max's itinerary includes weather forecasts and climate information. I still can't believe she actually plans these things. Call me before you hit the road tomorrow, and every pay phone you come across. I'll be waiting just in case until I actually have to leave."
"I am well aware of Max's tendencies to over-do the trip..."
Though he did realize he hadn't even looked at the long thing yet. It sat on his countertop with all the other mail. He could probably get over his packing dilemma if he just looked at it instead of...
"... and you sound like an over-protective boyfriend."
"Correction, I am better than a boyfriend. I am your best friend. The Paladin and the Cleric. Storyteller and Sorcerer. Saviors of the world. Crazy together, right?"
"You're a cheese ball. Yeah, Mike. Crazy together."
A small silence before Mike cleared his throat. "And... I'll let you get back to what you were doing when I called. I'm sorry for interrupting."
Will flushed. A dry cough left him. "Um, sorry, what?"
Mike laughed loudly into the phone, no malice, just plain Mike Wheeler analysing.
"Will."
As always, because he was the heart, his best friend, and way too good at knowing Will's smallest ticks...
"What?"
... Unfortunately.
"I'd know your breathing anywhere. That wasn't packing fatigue. Happy Jacking off! Get it, because we're going to Happy Jack?"
Will gasped out loud as the realization hit him straight in the gut.
"Bye, Will!"
The line went dead.
"Fuck!" Will yelped out in embarrassment.
He could feel the universe laughing at him once again. He slammed the phone onto the receiver and shoved a pillow over his burning face. Though this time, it wasn't on fire because of an impending orgasm.
This is going to be a long week.
"Happy Jacking off, indeed," he groaned out loud.