Work Text:
Rain hammered against the laundromat windows hard enough to blur the city lights into brush strokes of neon watercolors. Will Byers stood just inside the doorway dripping onto the tiled floor, one hand pressed dramatically to his chest, the other hand holding onto his laundry basket.
“Oh my god,” he said out loud, “I look devastating.”
An older woman folding towels near the dryers had ignored him completely. Across the room, a guy who looked to be the same age as him, had glanced up from his notebook. They had locked their eyes immediately.
Will was used to people looking at him. He was popular, used to the double takes, the staring, the confusion. But this guy was different. This guy was looking at him, not because he was checking him out, but almost as if he was trying to read his mind.
His hair was black and fluffy, hanging just above his shoulders. He had multiple piercings, including 2 dangly earrings, a nose ring and matching eyebrow studs. He was wearing a black hoodie with the sleeves pulled slightly over his hands.
Cute.
Will peeled his soaked mesh top away from his skin with a grimace. “My phone died,” he announced. “My phone died, my uber cancelled and now I’m going to die in this laundromat.”
The guy watching him blinked slowly.
“You’re very loud.”
Will grinned confidently. He brought his laundry basket next to where Mystery Boy was sitting and started shoving his dirty clothes into the washer.
“You going to tell me your name or just keep staring like I’m a thief in the Hot Topic you work at?”
Mystery Boy’s mouth twitched into an almost smile. “Mike.” He said quietly. “Mike Wheeler.”
“Nice to meet you, Mike Wheeler. I’m Will Byers.” Mike nodded his head and returned his gaze back to his notebook.
Silence settled between them except for the quiet hum of the washing machines and the light thunder from outside. Will settled down on the floor next to Mike and pulled out his sketchbook. He began dragging his pencil across the page until it had slowly morphed into the laundromat before him. He could feel a hole burning through the side of his head. Mike’s gaze landing on him every few seconds before quickly looking back down at his lap.
It still seemed as if he was trying to figure him out and for some reason, (it’s probably nothing actually) it was making Will feel… nervous? No. Why would he be nervous?
Will sighed and turned his head meeting Mike’s eyes before he could look away again.
“So,” Will said, leaning his head back against the washer. “What’s with the serial killer notebook?”
Mike slammed it shut immediately, turning his face away from Will.
“Nothing.”
“Oh, how mysterious.” Will pressed his hand to his chest. “You know, you’re making this kind of hard for me.”
“Making what hard?”
“Usually people flirt back.”
Mike finally looked back up and raised both of his eyebrows.
“You flirt with everyone?”
“Only people I think are weird.”
“And you think I’m weird? You don’t even know me.”
Will tilted his head and the corners of his mouth turned up into a smile.
“I think you look like you bite people.”
Will was kind of expecting some off put remark back, but what he didn’t expect was the small laugh Mike gave before putting his notebook in his backpack and walking away towards the dryers, pulling his clothes out and stuffing them into a garbage bag. Will sat there shocked as his stomach started doing flips. Oh boy.
── ⋆⋅꩜⋅⋆ ──
Will lived in a tiny apartment above a Chinese restaurant in Brooklyn. He roomed with his 2 closest friends Max and Lucas, who had started dating during their freshmen year.
Max was splayed out, upside down on the couch watching tv when Will finally got back home that night.
“Wow, you look like you just ran into God out there.” Max said with a giggle.
“I met someone.”
Lucas glanced over from where he was sitting at the kitchen table working on his laptop.
“Did you sleep with him?”
“No,” Will scoffed. “Jesus, we exchanged like 5 sentences.”
Max finally sat up right and shut the tv off. “That’s basically grounds to get married for you.”
Will ignored them all and collapsed onto the couch with a dramatic groan.
“He was kind of weird.”
“Oh no,” Max started, “He’s your type.”
Will laughed as he stood back up and started making his way back towards his room.
“Goodnight, guys!” He yelled over his shoulder.
He got to his room and fell face first onto his pillows. How is he supposed to forget this guy? I mean, they exchanged names so Will could easily find him somewhere on campus. Maybe he’d search him up online and see what pops up. Yes! He thought to himself.
“Okay Mike let’s see if I can find you.” Will whispered as he pulled his phone out of his back pocket and opened the Instagram app. He had found Mike’s account within minutes except it wasn’t exactly exciting or anything. He had 4 pictures up, one of a bottle of black nail polish with no caption.
“Okay..” Will scrolled to the next photo showing a stack of worn-down books balanced on top of each other with a small cup of coffee sitting nearby. No caption again. He flipped the page again to see a photo of a tv screen turned off and only his reflection was what appeared on the screen. The phone was covering his face and he had his black hoodie on with a matching pair of sweatpants. The last, and most recent photo, had beenposted close to a year ago. It was a photo of his converse in what looked to be a field with a tiny ladybug crawling up his shoe.
Many thoughts raced in Will’s mind. Was Mike thinking of him? Would Mike want to see him? Would Mike want to hang out?? Will sighed as he threw his phone back onto his bed and laid down. Sleep quickly came over him before he could spiral even further.
── ⋆⋅꩜⋅⋆ ──
Will had let Mike slip his mind for the next following days, allowing him to focus a little more on school. Will wasn’t usually one to fall behind but Mike seemed like a dangerous path that led would lead him there.
Will stumbled into the campus library about a week and a half later around eleven pm. He walked up to the front desk and rang the bell for help. A nice, middle-aged woman walked up to him, giving him a polite smile.
“Good evening, dear,” She said softly. “Looking for something specific?”
“No actually,” He laughed. “I was wondering if you guys had any comics?”
“Oh, yes!” She gleamed. “Go down to the end of the aisles and they’re right up against the wall.”
“Perfect, thank you!” Will walked away, following the directions the librarian had just given him. He could spot the comics as he drew closer. Turning into the aisle he had to catch himself on the wall before tripping over the body sitting cross-legged on the floor. He was about to tell the guy off before they made eye contact. Mike.
“Oh, it’s you again.” Mike said quietly.
“You sound disappointed.”
Mike didn’t respond, just shook his head and returned his eyes back to the book he was holding. Will sat down next to him and pulled a random comic off the shelf in front of them. He looked around the room with the dimlighting and the shelves that looked like they hadn’t been dusted since they built the place.
“You work here?”
“Unfortunately.” Mike said, not taking his eyes off his book. “You talk a lot.”
Will threw his head back with a laugh that had the librarian shushing him from across the room. Mike looked semi-pleased with himself for the reaction. They both returned to reading before Mike got up to go back to working.
── ⋆⋅꩜⋅⋆ ──
UNKOWN NUMBER:
is this the weirdo that likes comics
WILL:
omg wait how’d you get this number
MIKE 😊:
i looked through our records at work for “loud guy with eyeliner”
WILL:
sounds about right
MIKE 😊:
you left your pencil bag btw
WILL:
OH MY GOD
WILL :
i thought I lost it
WILL:
my hero
MIKE 😊:
you owe me
WILL:
careful
MIKE 😊:
hm
── ⋆⋅꩜⋅⋆ ──
Mike started appearing everywhere after that. Never coming up to Will but occasionally giving him a small wave before running in the opposite direction. It was taking everything in Will not to freak out but instead he found it quite endearing. Will finally woke up one morning and rolled over to grab his phone.
WILL:
so are u ever going to ask me to hang out or am i going to have to make a scene
WILL:
i know ur reading my texts btw
WILL:
the typing bubble keeps popping up and disappearing like your battling demons
MIKE 😊:
what would we even do
WILL:
wow
WILL:
u wound me
MIKE 😊:
i just mean we don’t really seem to have much in common
WILL:
that’s insane
WILL:
you literally look like you were raised in a tumblr factory.
WILL:
i know you do nerd shit
MIKE 😊:
define nerd shit
WILL:
let me guess. lotr, star wars, d&d, comic books.
WILL:
ringing any bells?
MIKE 😊:
u know d&d?
WILL:
BABE IM A CLERIC
WILL :
hang out with me friday
WILL:
we can watch a movie and bully each other
Will sat up in his bed and ran his fingers through his hair. Was that too forward? Did he finally scare him off? The tiny text bubble flashed on and off the screen. Will braced himself for the rejection, squinting his eyes at the screen. His breath caught when his phone buzzed in his hand.
MIKE 😊:
fine
WILL:
omg he said yes everybody stay calm
MIKE 😊:
ur so annoying
WILL:
and yet..
── ⋆⋅꩜⋅⋆ ──
Will zipped through all of his classes the remaining of the week until it was finally Friday. He sent a text to Mike earlier in the day to plan what time to meet up and both agreed on six pm. Will finished getting ready in his bathroom, wearing a simple The Cure t-shirt with some dark washed jean shorts that hung low on his waist revealing the top band of his boxers and a pair of black and white Adidas. He had a small ring of black eyeliner smudged across his water line and faint glitter sparkling in the corner of his eyes. His hair was parted down the middle, coming just below his ears. Will grabbed his keys and ran out the door.
Will showed up outside Mike’s apartment at 5:45pm. He pulled into the parking space and grabbed his phone out of his pocket.
WILL:
here
He sent the quick text and looked out his window at the front door of the building. It was only a few minutes before the door opened and out walked Mike, wearing his simple black hoodie and dark, baggy jeans. Will honked the horn and waved out the window. Mike looked up from his phone and ran over to the car, opening the door and sliding in.
“Wow it smells like paint thinner in here.”
Will’s breath hitched as he stared at the man in front of him. His eyes locked on a small silver hoop sticking out of Mike’s lip. Mike noticed him staring and cleared his throat, snapping Will out of his trance.
“What?” Mike asked self-consciously.
“Hot.” Will responded with a grin. He shifted his car into drive and pulled back out onto the road.
“You hungry?”
“Sure.”
“Good. We’re getting Chinese food and then we’re watching ‘Empire Strikes Back’ at my place.”
Mike blinked slowly with his mouth hung slightly open, unable to respond. The corners of his lips twitched into the tiniest of smiles.
“You’re insane.”
── ⋆⋅꩜⋅⋆ ──
Two hours later they were sitting on the floor next to Will’s bed, both of their backs up against the frame as they watched the credits roll. Will reached up, shutting the tv off before turning back to Mike.
“You know, I kind of thought you hated me at first.” He blurted out.
“What?”
“At the laundromat and the library. You looked at me like I was exhausting or something.”
“You ARE exhausting.” Mike said.
Will gasped dramatically before letting out a quiet giggle.
“But I didn’t hate you.”
Will smiled at his words, turning so his body was now facing Mike.
“So what did you think then?”
Mike hesitated for a moment. Looking at the tv and then sighing as he turned to mirror the way Will was sitting.
“I thought you were loud,” He paused. “But also funny.”
Will turned his head slightly to the side, staying quiet to allow Mike to keep speaking.
“I didn’t understand why you’d want to talk to me.”
Will’s face shifted into a tender, knowing look. He reached over and slowly touched Mike’s new lip ring gently with his thumb.
“You know what’s weird?” Will murmured.
“What?”
“I spent like.. so many years trying to become the kind of person everybody notices.”
Mike raised his eyebrows and nodded his head, shifting his eyes to his lap.
“When I’m around you, I don’t just feel seen. I feel heard.”
Mike’s eyes widened as he shot his head back up. He studied at Will carefully like he was trying to figure out if he was lying or not.
“You make me nervous.” He said softly.
Will’s eyes softened at his words and scrunched up his nose and flashed him a toothy grin.
“Yeah?”
Mike nodded once.
“Good.”
── ⋆⋅꩜⋅⋆ ──
After a few weeks of hanging out, Will had developed a crazy habit of showing up to Mike’s apartment uninvited. Not in an annoying way, more like a stray cat kind of way. One second he would be walking back from the gym or the coffee shop on campus, and the next he would catch himself standing outside Mike’s apartment.
WILL:
come outside
MIKE 😊:
what
WILL:
i’m outside your apartment idiot
Will waited for a response for close to 4 minutes before deciding to turn around and start walking away. The door behind him flew open and Will turned around to see Mike standing there with water dripping from his hair looking like he had just jumped out of the shower.
“Hi,” Will said casually.
“You’re insane” Mike said as he held the door opened and ushered Will inside.
“And yet, you keep letting me inside.”
── ⋆⋅꩜⋅⋆ ──
The more they hung out. The more Will felt himself falling for Mike. He wasn’t usually the type to seek commitment, opting for the casual hookup. But with Mike, everything felt different. The burning heat from where their thighs touched while watching a movie together. The way Mike’s eyes always found his easily in every crowd. The way Mike figured out his favorite snacks and brought a bag full of them to their third hangout. It was all so much and Will could not go a single day without Mike crossing his mind.
WILL:
look it’s us
WILL:
[ photo attached of black cat cuddled up next to an orange cat ]
MIKE 😊:
which one am i
WILL:
the one that looks like they hiss at strangers
MIKE 😊:
ok fair
MIKE 😊:
ur definitely the orange one tho
WILL:
because im charming and so cute?
MIKE 😊:
because ur crazy
MIKE 😊:
and also cute
WILL:
omg you get me
── ⋆⋅꩜⋅⋆ ──
One rainy evening, Will opened his door to find Mike outside with his headphones on and a tote bag thrown over his shoulder. Will smiled as he let him in and closed the door behind them.
Max and Lucas were in the kitchen arguing over whether vampires could have tattoos or not (a daily argument). The apartment felt loud and warm in a way that Mike didn’t look like he was used to. Will was good at noticing those things now too. The way Mike made himself smaller when everything was too much and the way he would loosen up when he felt comfortable around someone.
They quickly made their way to Will’s room, not wanting to have to make conversation with anyone. Mike plopped his bag on Will’s bed before turning it over, dumping the contents onto his bed. Two DVDs fell out, The Shining and Parasite, along with three little bags of reeces pieces and a citrus tea. Will smiled as he watched Mike take out Parasite and place the disc into the DVD player. He picked up one of the candies and handed it to Will as he sat down on the bed. Will felt a strong burst of affection at Mike’s actions and leaned down to give him a soft peck on the cheek. A warm flush of red crept up Mike’s neck as he turned his head away towards the tv.
Later, after they had finished both movies, Will had drug Mike out onto the fire escape. He wrapped a blanket around himself to block the slight chill that the height had brought them. He noticed Mike shiver and opened his arm motioning Mike to scoot closer so they could share the blanket. God he’s so cute Will thought to himself.
They sat there for a while, passing a cigarette back and forth, watching the city skyline. A comfortable silence spread across them as they relaxed. Will wanted to get to know Mike more. Will already found out Mike was going to college for writing and that his favorite color was black (obviously) and he loves listening to music when he was in public so nobody would approach him. It was all information he tucked quietly into the Mike folder of his brain, but Will still wanted more. He opened his mouth but was quickly cut off as Mike beat him to it.
“Tell me about your family.”
Will stared out at the city before looking back at Mike.
“My dad left when I was nine. He was.. kind of a terrible person.” Will laughed softly.
Mike stayed quiet as he listened to Will continue.
“He hated basically everything about me. When I was a little kid, I liked dressing up. Makeup. Art. He despised all of it. Called me queer, slapped me when I cried. He used to yell a lot. At my mom mostly, but also me. Sometimes Jonathan.”
“Your brother?”
Will nodded. “Yeah he’s about four years older than me but he basically became my dad after the real one left.”
“My mom eventually remarried this guy named Jim.” Will said. “He was a big scary looking dude but a total softie when it came to all of us.” Will glanced down at his lap. “He made me feel safe.”
Will could hear Mike’s breath hitch at his words. He tried not to be this vulnerable with people, but something about Mike made him feel like he could let down every brick wall he spent years building up to block out all the things that kept people from getting too close to him.
“Do you ever still speak to your dad then?” Mike said in a hushed tone.
“Not really,” Will swallowed. “I think he and I would rather pretend neither exists to be honest.”
Mike looked away immediately, body tensing up against Will’s.
“My dad stopped talking to me after I came out in high school.” He rubbed his hands on his pants, keeping his eyes forward.
“He was really obsessed with me being like.. normal or something.”
Will snorted.
“What an unfortunate goal.”
Mike had smiled at that. A real, genuine smile that Will had only caught a glimpse of a handful of times.
“My sisters were actually okay about it,” Mike continued. “Nancy especially.” His voice softened slightly. “She’s also around four years older than me. When things got bad at home, she basically packed all my stuff and had me move in with her.”
Will hummed quietly, looking down at Mike’s hands.
“What about your mom?”
“She tries,” Mike said, drawing his eyes back to meet Wills. “I think losing me made her realize how bad my dad was to us.”
Silence settled between them once again. Will let his head tilt until it rested on Mike’s shoulder. He felt him stiffened at the touch but then ever so slightly melted into it.
“You know,” Will whispered sleepily, “You’re the easiest person I’ve ever talked to.”
Mike looked down at him, a tiny gleam of light shined in his eyes. He leaned down and bumped their noses together before pulling back slightly and giving Will a small smile. Will realized suddenly that he was completely in love.
── ⋆⋅꩜⋅⋆ ──
The two of them started hanging out regularly after that. They went out to bars, got coffee together in the mornings before class, and had movie nights several times throughout the week. Every time Will saw Mike, he felt strangely electric, buzzing at every word Mike spoke. And not because he flirted with him. He didn’t really flirt at all.
Will was used to people wanting things from him immediately. Mike just.. watched him. Listened to him. Remembered things. Like how Will hated pickles. Or the times of when Will got out of class so he could bring him lunch for them to share. Nobody noticed things like that. Not about Will.
── ⋆⋅꩜⋅⋆ ──
One Friday night, Will had dragged Mike to a house party off campus.
“Why are we here? You hate frat parties.” Mike said as they walked up the porch stairs.
“And you hate happiness. We all make sacrifices.”
As soon as they walked through the doors, they were hit with the throbbing bass of the music blaring over the stereo and sweaty bodies dancing across the room. There was glitter clinging to everything, the floor sticky as they walked over it towards the drinks. Will excused himself to the bathroom, soon returning to see Mike standing in the same spot he had left him.
“Wow, you look miserable.”
“I am miserable”
“Aw.” Will said as he leaned in closer. “You stayed anyway.”
Mike looked at him carefully, like he was searching for the words. Then after a beat, he spoke up.
“Because you’re here.”
Something had shifted in the air between them. Both faces now inches apart from each other. Will swallowed before giving him a smile.
“Let’s go outside.”
The back porch was empty except for tiny raindrops dripping from the awning. The music now muffled behind the walls. Will leaned against the railing and lit a cigarette, taking a drag and handing it over to Mike. As he took it from Will, their fingertips brushed, causing them to both blush and quickly look away.
“You know,” Mike said quietly, “I think people might confuse your confidence with visibility.”
Will stared at him. “What do you mean?”
“I mean like..” Mike swallowed hard before continuing. “You let people look at you and check you out but.. I don’t think you let them actually see you.”
Will’s breath caught. He can’t remember the last time anyone has ever said something like that to him. Suddenly realizing how close they were standing next to each other, Will cleared his throat and let out a small hum of agreement.
“You always psychoanalyze people at frat parties?” Will said after a moment.
“Only the pretty ones.”
Will blinked. Stunned. Pretty?
“Did you just flirt with me?”
Mike looked horrified as he covered his face with his hands.
“I don’t know.”
Will burst out laughing. “Oh my god, you’re so cute.”
Mike groaned, turning away from Will. “I’m leaving.”
“Um, absolutely not.”
Will reached out and grabbed his wrist before he could move further. Both of them froze. The contact was tiny, barely anything. But Will could feel Mike’s pulse jump beneath his fingers. Neither of them moved. The music was still thumping from inside, the rain filling the silence. Mike looked down at Will’s hand still wrapped around his wrist, then slowly back up to meet his eyes. Will’s chest tightened immediately. Before he could speak up, the back door slammed open.
“WILL!” Lucas yelled drunkenly. “Max says stop emotionally cheating on your friends and get back in here!”
Will stepped back slightly as he laughed. Mike looked like he wanted to run into oncoming traffic. Will gave Mike a smile as he walked back into the house looking for Max.
An hour had passed when he realized he hadn’t seen Mike in a while. He searched the house before finding Lucas again in the kitchen.
“Hey, have you seen Mike?”
“Yeah! He was outside with Jason but I think he left just a few minutes ago.”
Will pulled his phone out and tapped Mike’s contact.
WILL:
you left without saying goodbye ☹
MIKE 😊:
your friend tried to show me his belly button piercing
WILL:
and???
MIKE 😊:
i miss who i was before that happened
WILL:
LOL
WILL:
you looked hot tonight by the way
MIKE 😊:
you say that to everyone
WILL:
ur different
MIKE 😊:
oh
── ⋆⋅꩜⋅⋆ ──
A few days later, they both found themselves walking home from the movies. Will had forced Mike to come out to a reshowing of The Fellowship of The Ring. Will could feel Mike sneaking glances towards him all night.
They finally made it back to Mike’s apartment. Will dropped himself face first onto the bed, turning his head slightly to watch as Mike pulled out a vinyl and placed it on his record player. The soft tones of Radiohead’s ‘Asleep’ began to play. He walked over to his dresser, opening one of the drawers and pulling a hoodie out. He pulled it over his head and sat down on the floor, looking back at Will.
“Can I ask you something?” Will mumbled into the pillow.
“Sure.”
“Do you like me?”
Mike’s expression tightened immediately. He looked down at his hands before nodding his head ever so slightly. There was a long silence before he spoke up.
“Yes,” he whispered.
The room suddenly felt smaller. The tips of Mike’s ears had turned painfully red as he looked like he was about to explode from embarrassment.
“Sorry. I-I mean it’s okay if you don’t feel the same. I’m-.” Mike started outwardly panicking before Will cut him off.
“I like you too.”
They stared at each other for a moment. Neither daring to move. Will’s heartbeat thudded painfully in his chest, his breathing coming out faster. Mike’s eyes clicked down to Will’s mouth and that’s all it took.
Will sat up and crossed the room before he could overthink it. He crouched in front of Mike, placing both hands on his face before leaning in slowly. Will’s eyes darted back and forth searching for a distress signal or anything that could indicate he did not want this.
Mike met him halfway.
Their lips brushed for a moment before Will turned his head slightly, deepening the kiss. Mike’s breath hitched against his mouth, his hand reaching up to cover Will’s on his face. The kiss was lazy almost. Careful, but hungry in a straining kind of way that left Will feeling dizzy.
Will climbed onto his lap, straddling his legs on either side of Mikes’. He made a soft startled sound as he let his hands wander to Will’s waist. They sat like this for a while, exploring each other’s mouths until they had to break for air, keeping their foreheads pressed together.
Will smiled, leaning in to give Mike a quick peck before pulling back again.
“So,” He whispered.
“So?”
“You’re actually a good kisser, huh?”
Mike laughed, letting out a breath against Will’s face that smelled like peppermint and coffee.
“You talk too much.”
“You like listening.”
Mike looked at him then, like really looked at him.
“Yeah,” He admitted softly. “I really do.”
For the first time in a very long time, Will felt truly and completely seen.
── ⋆⋅꩜⋅⋆ ──
Will was standing in the kitchen wearing his tiny sleep shorts and Mike’s black hoodie. They had decided to have another movie night, only this time Will had offered to cook them dinner. He was aggressively stirring the pasta like the noodles had offended him.
“You’re judging me.” He accused without turning around, knowing Mike was staring at him.
“You’re stirring like the noodles will disappear if you beat them hard enough and you’re putting way too much chili powder in there.”
“Don’t be dramatic. I happen to enjoy a little spice, unlike you.” Will smiled as he continued cooking.
“You literally cried after eating mild salsa last week.”
“That was emotional vulnerability, thank you very much.”
The apartment was quiet tonight. Lucas and Max were out staying with family for the weekend, leaving the apartment all to themselves. Will hummed softly along to the music playing on his phone while he mixed the sauce onto the noodles. He heard tiny footsteps behind him as he glanced back slightly.
“What are you-”
Mike came up behind him and rested his chin on Will’s shoulder. He stopped stirring the pasta, frozen in place. He stood there for a moment before feeling a shift, Mike slowly picking his head back up. Not wanting Mike to think he doesn’t want the touch, he leaned back letting his head rest against Mike’s shoulder. Will turned his head so their faces were closer now.
“You’re being cuddly.” Will said delighted. “Guys. Someone mark the calendar.”
“Shut up.”
Will grinned at him. “You’re cute when you’re clingy.”
“I’m literally just standing here.” Mike said as he hid his face in Will’s shoulder while he laughed quietly.
Will’s heart pounded in his chest and he returned to their food. The rest of the night was them eating in a nice, comfortable silence.
── ⋆⋅꩜⋅⋆ ──
Will’s birthday was coming up in the following days and he’d be lying if he said he wasn’t excited. Mike had been hassling him to give him ideas for gifts even when Will insisted he didn’t need to get anything. (he loves gifts)
MIKE <3 :
what do you want for ur bday
WILL:
world peace
MIKE <3 :
be serious
WILL:
ugh fine.
WILL :
there’s this stupid pair of earrings I’ve been dying for but they’re expensive and i refuse to buy
MIKE <3 :
send link
WILL:
mike.
MIKE:
please baby
Will stared at the message on his screen for so long his hand started going numb. Baby. Mike just called him baby. No need to freak out. Everyone stay calm.
── ⋆⋅꩜⋅⋆ ──
Will’s 23rd birthday started the same as it had the past 2 years, a hectic bar crawl that ended up back at his apartment with his two friends. Except this year, Mike was coming with. Lucas was passing out shots as Max hung her arm over Will’s shoulders, throwing him off balance slightly. Will thrived in the chaos. He looked hot tonight, too. Max threw him in the bathroom as soon as he got home earlier that day. She put him in a mesh shirt paired with his baggy jean shorts that stopped mid-thigh. He had on white eyeliner and glitter all over his eyes and cheekbones.
He knew all eyes would be on him, but tonight, his stayed on Mike. The way he clung to his side like a lost puppy. They hadn’t kissed since the movie night and normally, this feeling would have him spiraling, but with the alcohol flowing through him, he was feeling confident. Brave. His hand found the back of Mike’s neck as he leaned up on his toes to whisper in his ear.
“You having fun?”
Mike nodded. “You?”
Will smiled lazily as leaned closer to Mike’s ear. “I always have fun with you.”
Mike had looked away before Will could catch his reaction.
Later, after Will lost count of all the drinks he had and one heated argument about whether Han Solo was overrated, Will pulled Mike outside onto the fire escape. The cold, night air hitting them instantly. Will leaned up against the brick wall grinning.
“You’re acting weird.” He said as he squinted his eyes.
“I got you something.”
Will blinked. “Mike. You didn’t have-”
“Just shut up for a second.”
Will laughed softly before twisting his fingers on his mouth like he was zipping his lips shut. Mike pulled out a small black box from his jacket pocket and handed it over to Will.
He frowned slightly before opening it and then his body stilled.
Inside sat the exact pair of earrings Will had shown him when asking about birthday gifts. For a second it looked like Mike was going to combust as Will let his gaze flicker between him and the earrings.
“..You bought these?”
“You said you wanted them.”
Will looked up slowly, letting his expression soften. His eyes felt heavy as they welled up with tears. He tried to blink quickly to get rid of them but one had slipped out. Mike shifted awkwardly.
“I just..” He rubbed the back of his neck nervously. “You deserve nice things.”
Will grabbed his face and kissed him hard enough to shut him up completely. Mike stumbled slightly into the wall with a started laugh against his mouth.
“You’re insane.” Mike whispered once they had pulled back for air.
Will was overwhelmed. “Nobody’s ever been this nice to me.”
Mike placed a hand on Will’s face, rubbing his thumb over his cheek.
“I care about you.”
Will kissed him again, slower this time. A way of him saying thank you without saying the actual words.
── ⋆⋅꩜⋅⋆ ──
A week later they ended up tangled together on Will’s couch watching Revenge of the Sith for what felt like the millionth time. When Mike first showed up, snacks in hand like always, Will insisted they build a blanket and pillow fort.
“This is so unnecessary.” Mike told him, even though he continued helping.
“It’s about the atmosphere.”
“It’s about you being dramatic.”
“Exactly.” Will smiled.
Halfway through the movie, Will was feeling brave again and shifted until he was laying across the floor and laid his head on Mike’s lap. Mike immediately went still under him. Will looked up at him, trying to see the look on his face.
“What’s wrong?” Will asked.
“Nothing.”
Will hummed as he turned his head back to the movie. It was only a few minutes later when he felt a soft touch on his scalp. Mike had very carefully started running his fingers lightly through Will’s hair. He melted into it quickly.
“Oh my god.” he whispered dramatically.
Mike’s eyebrows shot up in confusion. “What?”
“This feels illegal.”
Mike laughed and continued playing with Will’s hair, his soft brown curls slipping through his fingers. Will closed his eyes as he let the feeling linger. Will had always acted like affection was too easy for him, but moments like this revealed the truth. Mike brushed his curls back from his forehead as Will opened one eye to look up at him.
“You’re staring.” Will whispered.
“You’re pretty.”
Will smiled at him for a moment and then quietly, “Come here.”
Mike leaned down and kissed him slowly and sleepily underneath the soft glow of the tv. Will realized he could probably spend the rest of his life doing this.
── ⋆⋅꩜⋅⋆ ──
Their first real “fight” happened quietly, which somehow made it worse. At first, Will thought Mike was just busy or tired. Maybe he was overwhelmed. But after two full days of no response, Will had started pacing holes into the kitchen floor of his apartment.
“He’s still alive, you know.” Max said from the couch.
“You don’t know that.”
“He reposted a cat reel three hours ago.”
Will stopped dead in his tracks and whipped his head to look at Max.
“He WHAT?”
Lucas snorted from the floor where he was sitting between Max’s legs as she braided his hair.
“That’s evil.”
Will grabbed his phone without thinking and sent Mike another text.
WILL:
ok so i KNOW ur alive
No response. Will’s stomach twisted as he watched the text bubbles appear before disappearing all together. The thing was, logically, he knew Mike wouldn’t try to hurt him on purpose. But the silence still felt like he was being abandoned. It was like waiting for his dad to come home and apologize for everything.
Will hated that.
Mike finally answered later that night.
MIKE <3 :
sorry
Will stared at his phone for a minute and then began typing immediately.
WILL:
r u okay?
The bubbles appeared, then disappeared and then appeared once again.
MIKE <3 :
not really
Will’s anger and hurt dissolved instantly.
WILL:
can i come over?
Will drummed his fingers on his lap before his phone buzzed again.
MIKE <3 :
sure
Will grabbed his charger, toothbrush, and a change of clothes and shoved them into his bag. He was getting a little ahead of himself thinking Mike would want him to stay but he did it just in case. Will ran out to his car and drove over to Mike’s, getting there in record time.
Will knocked on the door, waiting a few seconds before he heard the soft shuffling of feet coming closer. Mike opened it looking absolutely exhausted. His dark hair was messy and the dark circles on his eyes made Will’s heart ache.
“Oh, babe.”
Mike looked away immediately.
“Don’t.”
“Don’t what?” Will asked, confused.
Mike just shook his head lightly as he stepped away from the door allowing Will to walk in. His apartment smelled like pine trees and laundry detergent. Will sat down on the couch and tipped his head, motioning for Mike to join him. With a quiet sigh, Mike walked over and sat down. His moves looked calculated, almost as if he was trying not to touch Will. Mike rubbed his hands over his face tiredly.
“I’m sorry I just..” Mike started. “I just needed space.”
“You disappeared.”
“I know.”
Will crossed his arms, frustrated.
“You could’ve told me or at the very least sent out a bat symbol so I knew you were alive instead of having to find out by some Instagram reel.”
Mike flinched slightly at the sound of his voice. Will felt a little guilty but knew he needed to stand his ground.
“I didn’t know how.”
Silence. And then he finally continued.
“I just get like this sometimes.”
Will softened immediately, letting his shoulders relax.
“I stop answering people. I stop wanting to exist for a while.” His voice sounded a little embarrassed. “It’s easier to just go into hiding,”
Will looked at him carefully.
“Mike.”
“Look I know I’m an asshole-”
“No.” Will said, cutting him off and scooting closer so their knees touch. “You’re not a bad person just because you struggle sometimes.”
Mike laughed bitterly. “I’m not really the easiest person to date.”
The word hung in the air.
Date.
Neither of them had acknowledged it before. They never discussed their current situation. They’ve kissed twice, hung out almost every day, but still never put a label on it.
Will reached out, putting his hand on top of Mike’s knee.
“You don’t have to earn softness from me.”
Mike’s eyes glistened from his words, his chest starting to move rapidly. Will wrapped his arms around him and Mike melted into it instantly. Like he had been holding himself together, waiting for someone to tell him everything’s okay.
“I’m sorry,” Mike whispered against Will’s shoulder.
Will squeezed him a little tighter. “Just tell me next time?”
Mike nodded and pulled back from the hug slightly.
“Will you stay?”
Will leaned in and gave him a soft kiss on his forehead.
“Obviously.” He said with a small smile.
── ⋆⋅꩜⋅⋆ ──
Two weeks later, Mike had burst into Will’s room and dropped a stack of papers onto Will’s desk as he was working on a painting commission. Will turned his head, confused, and picked up the papers.
“What’s this?”
Mike instantly looked nervous.
“Nothing.”
“Why are you being suspicious?”
Mike rubbed the back of his neck as he looked down at his feet.
“I- It’s a um..” He started. “It’s a story.”
Will’s eyes widened at Mike’s words.
“You wrote me a story?”
“Yeah, I regret this actually. Give it back.” Mike said as he reached for the papers.
Will yanked them back dramatically out of Mike’s reach.
“Nope. Too late.”
Mike groaned and covered his face as he let himself fall back onto Will’s bed. Will climbed up next to him, settling against the pillows, and began reading.
At first, he smiled, reading about the description of where the story took place. Will felt his heart burst as he continued down the pages. The story was fantasy themed. A wondering paladin cursed to be unloved forever. Then he met the reckless cleric. The paladin was quiet, guarded. The cleric was bright and emotional, impossible not to love.
Will realized halfway through the story that this was him and Mike. The realization hitting him harder than anything else ever had. He glued his eyes to one line in particular.
‘The Cleric had loved loudly because he feared the silence meant abandonment. The Paladin loved quietly because he feared that love itself was only temporary.’
“Oh my god.” Will said as he felt his eyes welling with tears.
“It’s bad, isn't it?” Mike said with a slight panic in his voice.
Will looked back up to meet Mike’s eyes as his tears began flowing down his face.
“You’re so mean.”
He felt Mike's body still next to him.
“What?”
“You made me cry.”
Mike blinked in shock as he lowered his head. Will laughed shakily as he wiped at his eyes.
“This is like the sweetest thing anyone’s ever done for me.”
Silence settled between them. Will kept his eyes on Mike, who was now looking nervous all of a sudden. Terrified even. Like he was standing at the edge of a cliff waiting to fall.
“I’m in love with you.” Mike said quietly. His eyes widened at the words that came out of his mouth like he regretted them already. Will moved before he could spiral. He climbed onto Mike’s lap and kissed him hard. When they finally pulled apart, Will rested their foreheads together.
“I’m so in love with you, Mike.”
Mike let out the smallest broken sound in the back of his throat. Like hearing that physically hurt him.
Will continued, more confident this time, “I love you, Mike.”
The corners of Mike’s lips turned up into a rare smile that had Will returning it effortlessly. Will laid the papers onto his desk, admiring the words written just for him. He pulled out his pajamas and excused himself to the bathroom. Once he returned, he found Mike already in bed tucked under the blankets, holding one side open to allow Will to slide in next to him. Will laid his head on Mike’s chest, listening to his breath as it slowed down to an even pace.
“Goodnight, Mike.”
── ⋆⋅꩜⋅⋆ ──
MIKE <3 :
good morning
WILL :
it's literally 2pm
MIKE <3 :
good afternoon then
WILL :
better
MIKE <3 :
check ur front door
Will frowned as he got out of bed and walked to his apartment door. A small coffee tray and a little brown bag sat outside. God I love him. Will thought to himself as he picked the things off the ground and brought them inside, placing them on the kitchen table as he pulled his phone back out.
WILL :
you're literally courting me like I'm a prince
MIKE <3 :
just eat your breakfast baby
Will crossed his arms on the table and placed his head onto them, hiding his smile as his heart started feeling overwhelmed with love.
“What are you doing?” Max said as she walked into the kitchen to pour herself a cup of coffee.
Will sat back up and took a sip of his drink, half expecting it to be coffee only to be delighted with the taste of the sweet milk tea Mike had remembered he liked.
“I hate men.”
“Sure.” Max said, rolling her eyes.
── ⋆⋅꩜⋅⋆ ──
A few nights later, Will laid sprawled across Mike’s bed while music lingered softly from his record player. Mike was sitting beside him, reading one of his books. Will watched him over the top of his phone as he licked his fingers, turning a page.
“You know,” Will said casually. “We don’t really make out.”
Mike made a choked out sound at his words. “What?”
Will laughed as he sat up and bumped their knees together.
“I’m serious!”
Mike looked away, a deep red flush going up his neck to his ears.
“Hey.” Will said softer now. “What’s going on?”
Mike stared down at the book in his lap and let out a soft sigh.
“I don’t know.”
“Yes, you do, Mike. Don’t shut me out.”
There was a long silence before Mike spoke again.
“I don’t know..” He started, looking like he was struggling for the right words. “I guess I’ve never really been a sexual person like that.”
“Okay.” Will said softly, placing his hand on Mike’s knee.
Mike looked up, his face looked cautious. “That’s it?”
“That’s it.”
Mike frowned slightly at his words.
“You’re not disappointed?”
Will felt almost offended at the question. He offered Mike a small smile, before shaking his head.
“I love you, Mike. We never have to do anything you don’t want to do.”
“I know but-” Mike started.
“But?”
“But sometimes..” His voice dropped quieter as he swallowed. “Sometimes I do want to do stuff. I just get nervous and in my head.”
Will’s heart ached with affection. He reached out and grabbed Mike’s hand, rubbing his thumb across his knuckles.
“What makes you nervous?”
Mike laughed weakly. “Everything, I guess.”
Will gave him a small smile, leaning down to place his head on Mike’s shoulder.
“Well then, we go slow. If you feel like you’re getting uncomfortable, you tell me to stop and I will.”
Mike smiled and nodded his head, placing a kiss on Will’s forehead. Will let out a soft hum before he felt his chin being tilted up. Pulling his face closer, they both closed their eyes, letting their lips find each other in the dark. The kiss was soft, gentle at first.
Will pulled back slightly, “Tell me if you want me to stop.”
Mike nodded again as they both leaned in once more. The hunger slowly crept up, causing the kiss to deepen. Mike’s hands eventually found Will’s waist, tugging him onto his lap. Will smiled into the kiss, bringing his left hand up to cup the back of Mike’s neck, playing with the soft hair at his nape.
Mike’s grip on Will’s waist was punishing, for sure going to leave bruises the next day. (Will loved it.) Mike pulled him impossibly closer, letting their mouths part as he trailed wet kisses down the side of hisneck. Will grinned as he tilted his head back, allowing Mike more access. Mike stayed there for a moment before he made his way back up to Will’s face, slotting their lips together once again. Will opened his mouth, licking Mike’s bottom lip questioningly, asking permission. Mike let his lips part, allowing Will to slip his tongue inside. The searing heat causing a gasp to slip out of his throat as Mike’s tongue found him. When they finally pulled away, their chests heaved as they tried to catch their breath. They matched each other's smiles, climbing back into bed and let the night take them.
── ⋆⋅꩜⋅⋆ ──
WILL:
party friday?
MIKE <3 :
define party
WILL:
music
WILL:
gay people
WILL:
me in a tight shirt and tighter pants
MIKE <3 :
why do u make everything sound threatening
WILL:
pleaseeeeeeeeeeee
MIKE <3 :
only if we can leave early
WILL:
DEAL BABE
── ⋆⋅꩜⋅⋆ ──
A conversation that hadn’t happened started at one in the morning, on their way home from the party. Will reached out and grabbed Mike’s hand as they walked down the street. Mike looked down at their hands before moving his gaze up to meet Will’s eyes. He gave him a small smile as he swung their hands between them, a light skip to his step now.
They got back to Mike's place soon after, both peeling off their party clothes and into some comfortable pajamas. Will stole one of Mike’s hoodies and a pair of boxers. (He never cared.) They both collapsed into bed, Will curled against Mike’s side, a soft rain beginning to tap on the windows. Mike was tracing lazy shapes against Will’s back, his hand slipping just underneath the hem of his shirt.
“So,” Will whispered. “Max asked me if we were boyfriends yet.”
Will could feel Mike smile against the top of his head.
“Do you want to be?”
Will lifted his head immediately, a smile stretching all the way up to his eyes.
“Are you asking me to be your boyfriend?”
“Well, it’s either that or I kidnap you and keep you here forever.”
Mike turned his head slightly so they could see each other's faces. His hand came up and let it rest on Will’s cheek before leaning down and placing a soft kiss on his nose.
“Do you really want to be boyfriends?” Will asked quietly.
“You’re it for me, Will.”
Will leaned up, giving him a soft, quick peck on the lips before settling back onto Mike’s chest.
“Okay. You’re my boyfriend now.”
Mike’s arms tightened around Will’s waist as he pulled him closer. Will could feel as Mike’s breath evened out. He let himself be lulled to sleep by Mike’s steady heartbeat, knowing he was safe in his loving boyfriends' arms.
── ⋆⋅꩜⋅⋆ ──
MIKE <3 :
what r u doing
WILL:
trying to teach Lucas how eyeliner works
MIKE <3 :
hows that going
WILL:
[ photo attached of Lucas with eyeliner smeared across his cheeks ]
MIKE <3 :
tragic
WILL:
what are YOU doing babe
MIKE <3 :
thinking about u unfortunately
Will grinned at his phone so hard, Max had gagged from across the room.
“You’re disgusting.”
“He’s obsessed with me.” Will beamed.
“Aren’t you the one that cried over a fantasy story he wrote?”
“Unrelated.”
── ⋆⋅꩜⋅⋆ ──
Spring break was coming up and Will decided he was going to ask Mike to meet his family. Mike had mentioned that he didn’t have any plans for the break so this would be the perfect opportunity. He had said yes, obviously. Although maybe a bit frightened. Will had to reassure him several times that Jonathan was not going to kill him and his step-dad would not help.
── ⋆⋅꩜⋅⋆ ──
Will’s house was loud. When they first pulled up, shouting could be heard coming from inside. Will laughed when he looked over to see Mike trembling like a tiny chihuahua. He reached out and grabbed his hand, placing a soft kiss on his palm. Mike’s shoulders relaxed into the touch, pulling Will’s hand to his mouth, giving him a kiss there as well.
They got out of Will’s car, duffel bags in tow, and walked down the driveway towards the front door. Will knows he doesn’t have to knock, but he does it anyway, loving the reaction it gets out of his family when they open it to see him.
Jonathan answered the door after a few seconds. He was taller now, broad shoulders and hair to the top of his ears. Mike was probably thinking he was intimidating for all of three seconds before Will launched himself into his brothers’ arms.
“Jesus Christ.” Jonathan laughed, hugging him back tightly. “Did you lose weight?”
“God, you sound like mom.”
Joyce appeared from the kitchen at the sound of her name. She quickly took off her over mitts and set them on the counter before running up to Will and taking him in her arms. They stood there in silence for a moment, letting his mom grip onto him like he’d fly away if she let go. Joyce eventually pulled back, turning towards Mike and engulfing him in a hug before he could protest.
“Oh honey,” She said warmly. “It’s so nice to finally meet you.”
Mike froze slightly at the touch but let her continue squeezing him. Jim had appeared behind her, carrying the tray of cookies Joyce had just finished baking.
“You the boyfriend?” Jim asked.
Will nearly choked at the question, not really expecting it. Mike nodded his head slowly, turning his head towards Will, a silent pleading in his eyes. They both jumped as Jonathan began laughing from beside them. He placed a hand on each of their shoulders and pulled them inside.
The house erupted with chaos. A screaming match between Jonathan and Jim had started over some baseball game on tv. Joyce was asking Mike and Will question after question, barely even giving them time to respond before moving on.
At some point in the night, they all decided to put a movie on to watch before bed. Will was squished between Mike and his mom. Jonathan kept trying to talk over the movie, telling everyone how each shot was taken when it was filmed. It was almost over when Will’s heart started racing, a bead of sweat rolling down his forehead as he quickly stood up and excused himself. He just needed some air.
Will sat out on the back porch, cigarette in hand, and let out a long breath. He heard the sounds of everyone getting up and heading to bed. The door behind him creeked open as the all too familiar footsteps lingered behind him.
Mike crouched down beside him, dropping down onto the wood.
“Hey.” He said softly.
Will shook his head quickly, looking down at his lap.
“I’m okay.”
“No, you’re not.” Mike stated, already well aware of every mood Will has ever had.
“I just got overwhelmed, I guess.” Will pressed his hands to his eyes. His voice shook slightly, but Mike stayed quiet, letting him continue.
“Everybody was yelling over the movie and touching me, and I just felt like I couldn’t breathe anymore.” Will laughed weakly. “Great timing, huh?”
“Baby.”
Will closed his eyes and let out a small hum, keeping his eyes down. Mike inched closer, the heat coming off his body was a comforting feeling.
“Can I touch you?” Mike asked gently.
Will nodded his head, unable to form any words now. He felt Mike’s arms wrap around him. Not squeezing, grounding. He let himself relax into it, placing his head on Mike’s chest. A soft kiss was placed on top of his head, warm hands rubbing up and down his arms.
“I love you, Will.” Mike said, almost too quiet to hear.
“I know.”
Mike let out a soft giggle. “Did you just Han Solo me?”
Will smiled, tilting his head back and placing a kiss on Mike’s neck. He let Mike bring him back inside to the cool air of his bedroom, laying him down and tucking him in like a baby. Will laughed and tried to protest but surrendered after Mike had shushed him with a kiss. He climbed into bed on top of the covers and pulled his arm up, letting Will sink into him before they both soon feel under.
── ⋆⋅꩜⋅⋆ ──
They quickly fell back into routine once they returned from spring break. It was like they were attached at the hip, surgery required, as Max would say. With end of the year exams coming up, they both had to lock in, studying almost 24/7.
WILL:
i miss u
MIKE <3 :
you saw me 4 hours ago
WILL:
and?
MIKE <3 :
clingy
WILL:
correct next question
Will sat his phone down for a moment before the screen came back to life.
MIKE <3 :
check ur front door in 10 min
WILL:
YOU ORDERED ME CRUMBL COOKIES??
MIKE <3 :
i wanted to cheer u up
WILL:
im going to marry u unfortunately
── ⋆⋅꩜⋅⋆ ──
Will could tell something was wrong again. It was quiet at first, but then Mike started pulling away again. Not disappearing completely this time, but still far away. No kissing, no holding hands, no movie nights. He was retreating. Will noticed immediately of course. He tried to ignore it, maybe he was overthinking. By the fifth night of Mike being distant, Will sat out on his fire escape smoking angrily while Max sat beside him.
“So, are you going to tell me what’s happening in your haunted little romance?”
Will exhaled the smoke sharply. His lungs burned but the ache felt good.
“I think he’s getting tired of me.”
Max stared at him for a moment before bursting out laughing.
“Will, you can’t be serious.” She giggled. “He’s literally obsessed with you.”
“You don’t get it.”
Max stared at him, squinting her eyes before her whole face softened.
“You’re waiting for him to leave before he actually does.”
Will let out a deep sigh, nodding as he turned towards the city skyline.
“He loves you, Will. Not everything is secretly about you.”
Will glared at her. “Rude.”
Max laughed again, shoving Will’s shoulder lightly.
“Truth.”
Silence settled between them. The quiet noise of the city filling the air. Will stared down at the lights below them. The words bouncing around in his head, he was begging for them to be true.
They eventually climbed back inside, saying goodnight before retreating to their own rooms. Will changed into his pajamas, a pair of pink, plaid pants and one of Mike’s Gojira band t-shirts. He flopped onto bed and reached for his phone, unplugging it from the charger and seeing a message Mike sent three minutes ago.
MIKE <3 :
r u awake
WILL:
yes i fear
MIKE <3 :
come outside
Will shot out of bed, shoving his feet into his slippers and bolted out the door, down the stairs. He saw Mike sitting on the bench outside with a brown paper bag next to him. Will smiled despite the feelings that lingered in the back of his head. He padded over to the bench and sat down on the other side of the bag.
“What are you doing here?” Will asked nervously.
Mike handed over the bag and placed his hands back on his lap. Will tilted his head in confusion before looking down at the bag, slowly opening it. Inside sat his favorite late night pancakes. Extra strawberries. Will smiled as he sat the bag back down. He looked up at Mike, the streetlight above them revealing a soft blush on his cheeks.
They stayed silent for a moment before Will spoke up.
“Are we okay?”
Mike’s expression crumbled, letting out a small sigh.
“Of course, baby. I’m sorry I got weird again.”
Will looked at him carefully.
“You can talk to me about this stuff, you know.”
“I know.”
“No more disappearing.”
Mike nodded his head quickly. Will relaxed against the bench, reaching his hand out and placing it on Mike’s bobbing knee.
“I’ve never had something this good before.” Mike’s voice dropped lower. “I think part of me just keeps waiting for it to disappear or something.”
Will’s heart broke, his entire expression softening.
“Oh, babe.” He rubbed his thumb in small circles on Mike’s knee, bringing his other hand up to cup his face.
“I’m not going anywhere.”
Mike leaned in, giving Will a small kiss then pulled back so their foreheads touched. They sat there for a moment before Will stood up, grabbing Mike’s hand and dragging him inside.
── ⋆⋅꩜⋅⋆ ──
Will knew something was up the moment Mike had shown up at his door the next day with no warning. He just stood there, quiet. He was holding a small bag of Chinese takeout and looking like his head was going to implode from thinking too hard.
“..Hi?”
Mike exhaled slowly. “Can I come in?”
This alone made Will’s chest tighten. He moved back, letting Mike pass and closed the door behind him. His apartment was warm, anytime a cold chill set in, Will was quick to turn the heat up. Mike didn’t sit immediately. He stood at the edge of the couch and stared at it like it was in his way. Will sat down and glanced back up at Mike.
“Hey.” Will said softly. “What’s wrong?”
Mike rubbed the back of his neck, setting the bag down onto the ottoman and finally sitting down.
“I keep thinking about us.” A pause. “I um..I think I want to try..more.”
Will stayed still. He didn’t joke, didn’t flirt. He sat there and listened, brows raising in question.
“But I'm scared I’m going to mess it up.”
Will moved closer to Mike on the couch.
“You won’t.”
“I don’t really do this part of relationships,” Mike admitted. “Like the physical stuff.”
Will nodded quickly.
“Okay.”
Mike blinked at him.
“That it?”
Will reached out carefully but stopped just short of touching Mike.
“You tell me what feels good and what doesn’t. We go slow or we stop. I will never force you to do anything. You know this.”
Mike looked at him like he was a ghost.
“You’re not upset?”
Will frowned. “Why would I be upset when you trust me enough to just talk about it?”
Mike didn’t respond. Instead, he placed his hand on Will’s cheek, slowly pulling him closer. Testing. Will didn’t move, didn’t rush him, didn’t close the distance. Mike’s hand was warm and shaky, letting Will melt into it.
“Hi.” He whispered.
Mike let out a small laugh.
“Hi.”
Will leaned in slowly, just enough to feel Mike’s breath on his face.
“Okay?”
Mike nodded, closing the distance and letting their lips meet. The kiss wasn’t rushed. It was slow, careful. Like they were learning each other all over again. Will placed his hand on Mike’s chest, grounding him. At some point, Mike pulled back slightly, his breath sounding uneven.
“I’m nervous.” He said quietly.
“We can stop.”
“No.” Mike shook his head. “I don’t want to stop.”
Will smiled softly, leaning back in. Mike moved forward, pushing Will gently onto his back, their lips never parting. Slowly, he began letting his hands wander. They moved down and under the hem of Will’s shirt. He paused, breaking the kiss to look at Will for approval. With a quick nod, he sat up and let Mike pull the shirt over his head, discarding it on the floor. Will laid back down, watching Mike as he trailed his eyes over his body. His fingers shakingly rubbing small shapes into his waist as he let out a small hum. Mike leaned back in, kissing Will briefly before moving his lips to place short kisses on his neck, moving lower until he reached right below his collar bone. He began sucking the skin there, pulling a quiet moan from Will as he leaned back slightly to see the light, red mark he left behind. Will smiled, pulling Mike’s shirt so they were face to face again.
“My turn.” Will whispered.
Everything after that blurred into a quiet, closeness. Soft words were exchanged, pauses, check-ins, and hands exploring places that pulled gasps out of the other.
Later, after everything had settled, Mike stayed pressed against Will like he was afraid he’d slip away if he moved. Will reached up and brushed the hair out of his face gently.
“You okay?”
Mike nodded, the tips of his lips twitching up into a smile.
“I’m so in love with you, Will.”
Will smiled, closing his eyes. “Good because I’m so in love with you too.”
── ⋆⋅꩜⋅⋆ ──
Tonight was Will’s first gallery showing. He hadn’t expected to cry but when he stepped into the building and saw his work on the walls (literally on the walls!!), his breath caught hard in his throat. His hands shook next to his sides, and he made the way to his section.
“I can’t believe this is real.” He whispered to himself.
Mike had appeared at his side, shifting nervously as Will looked down to see him holding a bouquet of yellow flowers.
“You brought me flowers?”
Mike’s cheeks turned red instantly. He looked down at his feet in embarrassment as he nodded his head. Will laughed and he pulled him into a crushing hug.
Mike stiffened slightly, still not used to the PDA, but he didn’t pull away. Will leaned back to look at him, giving him a big toothy grin.
“You really came.”
“I told you I would.”
── ⋆⋅꩜⋅⋆ ──
Will quickly discovered Mike’s lap was his favorite place in the world. It all happened without any planning. Will just dropped onto the couch one night and laid his head down onto Mike’s thighs like it was the most natural thing in the world. Mike stilled instantly.
“You’re on me.”
“Yeah.”
“Okay.”
This became their routine every night. Will laid across Mike, arms around his waist. Mike slowly got used to it. Not fully comfortable but willing. The tv was on, playing ‘The Return of The King’.
“You’re so warm.” Will mumbled.
Mike glanced down at him, “You’re clingy.”
Will smiled, eyes still on the screen in front of them.
“You love it.”
A beat.
“Yeah, I do.” Mike admitted quietly.
Will grabbed his hand and threaded their fingers together. Mike brought them up to his lips and placed a small kiss on top of Will’s knuckles.
“Oh my god, you’re obsessed with me.” Will giggled.
“Unfortunately.”
── ⋆⋅꩜⋅⋆ ──
Will would be lying if he said he didn’t like the domestic life that had grown between them.
WILL:
i miss u
MIKE <3 :
ur literally in my bed
WILL:
and yet
ᯓ
MIKE <3 :
breakfast outside ur door
WILL:
ur spoiling me
MIKE <3:
u like it
WILL:
yes i do
WILL:
don't stop baby ur the heart
ᯓ
MIKE <3 :
u looked pretty today
WILL:
ur going to kill me one day
MIKE <3 :
i love you baby
WILL:
just fell to my knees in the taco bell parking lot
── ⋆⋅꩜⋅⋆ ──
Will was brushing his teeth when he heard the sound of his front door opening. Mike walked in and leaned against the doorframe, watching him almost cautiously.
“Hello, my love.” Will said, walking over and pressing a quick peck to Mike’s cheek.
Mike jerked back, folding his jacket over his chest and darted his eyes around the room.
“What do you have?” Will’s brows turned up in question.
Mike closed his eyes and pulled his lips into a tight smile. He opened his jacket, pulling out his arm to reveal a tiny white bunny curled up on his hand.
“You got a bunny.”
Mike nodded, placing the bunny down onto the bathmat, watching as it hopped around. Will sunk down onto the floor, staring at the tiny creature. The bunny faced him, thumping his back foot once before hopping closer.
“Oh my god he’s sooo cute!”
Will scooped up the bunny, bringing it up to his face, and mushing their noses together. Mike smiled as he rubbed his hand on the back of his neck.
“I named him Obi.”
Will looked up, scrunching his nose and tilting his head to the side.
“You are such a nerd.”
Mike let out a soft laugh. He reached over and pet Obi’s tiny head.
“This is the most boyfriend thing you may have ever done.”
Mike glanced down. “I actually wanted to talk about that.”
“About the bunny?”
The room went quiet, the only sounds being the soft squeaks coming from Obi. Will placed him back onto the mat before turning to Mike.
“About maybe moving in together?
Will blinked. “Oh.”
Mike had a panicked look on his face. “We don’t have to obviously if you don’t want to. But I thought maybe you’d like to. I mean e-even Obi wants you here.”
“Yes.” Will beamed.
“Yeah?”
“I would love to move in with you.”
Mike gave him a small smile, looking back down towards the bouncing bunny.
“Cool.”
“Cool.”
── ⋆⋅꩜⋅⋆ ──
MIKE <3 :
[ photo attached of Obi wearing a tiny wizard hat ]
MIKE <3:
its u
WILL:
EXCUSE ME???
WILL:
I LOVE YOU OBI
WILL:
ugh I miss my boys. i hate school
MIKE <3 :
obi misses his dad
MIKE <3 :
i guess i miss u too
Later that night, Will took a break from studying at the campus library, to check his phone. He scrolled through the notifications when one caught his eye. Mike posted something on Instagram. His eyes widened as he opened the app and clicked on Mike’s page. There in front of his face, was a photo of Will sitting on the bathroom floor with his eyes closed as Obi sat on his lap. The caption read, ‘home’.
Will’s heart burst out of his chest.
WILL:
YOU POSTED ME??
MIKE <3 :
yes
WILL:
PUBLICLY????
MIKE <3 :
yes baby
WILL:
omg i love you
MIKE <3 :
sap
── ⋆⋅꩜⋅⋆ ──
Once exams had passed, Mike and Will decided to spend the beginning of summer together with Max and Lucas. With the kind of heat that made the air warp, Max had decided they needed a beach day. They packed up all their snacks and swimming gear.
Max had packed sunscreen like she was preparing for the apocalypse. Lucas brought the chairs and a neon orange soccer ball.
Will brought Mike.
They both ended up under an umbrella slightly away from everyone else. Will was laying half on top of Mike, sighing dramatically. He watched the others running into the water, feeling a little bit of fomo.
“You sure you don’t want to come in?”
Mike nodded his head, eyes not leaving the book in his hands.
“WILLIAM COME SWIM WITH US BEFORE YOU SUCCOMB TO CODEPENDENCY!”
Will yelled back, “TOO LATE!”
Mike chuckled, carding his fingers through Will’s hair.
“Go swim.”
Will sat up, eyes searching Mike’s face for any discomfort.
“Are you sure?”
Mike smiled, pulling his sunglasses up to rest atop his head.
“Yes. Now go before I change my mind.”
Will leaned in, placing a sloppy, wet kiss to Mike’s forehead and then taking off towards the water.
── ⋆⋅꩜⋅⋆ ──
A month into summer vacation, Max begged them to come to a party happening near campus. Will agreed instantly, Mike pouted.
They showed up to Max and Lucas’ apartment to pregame. She walked out of their bathroom with a tube of eyeliner and a mission.
“You.” She said, pointing at Mike. “Sit.”
Mike rolled his eyes. “No.”
Will laughed as he turned to the kitchen to make everyone drinks. He watched from the counter as Max grabbed Mike’s arm, forcing him to sit. She tussled his hair around until it sat in a messy but stylish way. She pulled out the small eyeliner pen, dragging it across his waterline causing him to blink rapidly.
Soon after they were finished, it was around eleven pm when they decided to head out to the party. When Mike stepped into the main area, Will stopped speaking mid-sentence.
Mike looked down at him. “What?”
Will didn’t answer. All eyes in the room were on Mike. His soft, quiet, boyfriend. (HIS boyfriend btw)
Max pulled Will away for a smoke as he watched Mike shake his head and walk towards the drink area. When he returned, he quickly found his boyfriend. He was still standing near the same spot but he wasn’talone. Will watched as the person laughed at something Mike said. Will felt his feet moving before he realized it. Mike glanced up and caught his eyes.
“Baby?”
Will didn’t respond. Instead, he reached out and grabbed Mike’s wrist. Pulling him along through the crowd.
“Bathroom. Now.”
“Huh?”
Will didn’t explain further. They got to the bathroom and Will pulled them in, hard enough that Mike let out a muted gasp. He shut the door behind him, staring at him for half a second before pulling him in for a wet, searing kiss. Not gentle or slow like they were used to. This one was filled with a hunger that made Will’s lower stomach heat up rapidly.
Mike melted into him, a hand sliding onto Will’s waist as he pulled him closer. Will pulled back slightly, his breath now uneven.
“You’re mine.” Will whispered.
“I’m yours.”
Will’s face softened completely before surging forward again, connecting their lips as if the world outside no longer existed.
That night, they ended up tangled together in bed. Both sweating and chests heaving. The fan was humming softly, the summer air was cooler at night, but Mike ran hot and needed the fan on to prevent his overheating. The room smelled of cheap cologne and bodily fluids.
These were the parts Will told himself he would always remember. Mike curled up against him and Obi laying in his makeshift nest in the corner of the room. The moon cast a small light onto the walls, letting him take it all in.
Mike tilted his head up sleepily. “What are you thinking about?”
“Nothing,” He said quietly, brushing the hair out of Mike’s face. “Just thinking I could get used to this.”
Mike smiled as he laid his head back down onto Will’s chest.
“Forever, baby.”
Somewhere between one heartbeat and the next, the night had finally come to an end, and two things stood true.
Will Byers loved Mike Wheeler and Mike Wheeler loved Will Byers.