Chapter Text
Will had to pull over - he couldn’t see through the tears. The sky started to litter water on the ground, almost like it was crying with him. The clock radio in Lucas’ car read 11:05, he’d been driving for three hours. Through all the blurred thoughts he made a mental note to refill Lucas’ car the next time he was able. The car was suddenly all too much, so Will stepped out into the rain and finally had a good look at where he’d stopped.
A playground, plastic and colourful.
Will went and sat down on the swingset, a memory playing in his mind’s eye
“Hey, I’m Michael. But you can call me Mike,” a small boy with black hair approached a brunet on the swings.
“Hey, I’m William. But you can call me Will,” an even smaller boy answered.
“Do you wanna be friends?”
“Sounds cool!”
Will looked up at the sky and watched the rain fall for a bit, and enjoyed the cold sinking into his bones. He felt alive, he stretched out his arms and let the sky’s tears wash away his own.
“Will!” A car pulled into the playground, and Mike ran out, covering his head with a raincoat. “Jesus Christ, you’re gonna catch a cold.”
“It’s okay, Mike. I’m alright. I’ve never felt better.” The droplets ran down his nose, his neck and lay in his shirt. He smiled.
“I’m, so sorry,” Mike croaked, sitting next to Will on the adjacent swingset. “I’ve been such a moron and you’re right, I am a dipshit and a twat, but I just-” he exhaled, collecting himself.
“It’s okay. Take your time,” Will said.
“I’m just, I can’t believe I’ve been so stupid. I’ve had everything I’ve ever wanted right in front of me this whole time and I went and ruined it without even realising it.
Truth is, Will. I’ve loved you for a lot longer than you probably realise. Since before El, probably. When I said my life started when I found her, I was just saying things, you know? It was what she needed to hear in that moment. It worked, it saved them both, but I completely forgot to think for a damn moment.
I held onto El tightly because she was a superhero and she was safe and familiar. I’m not strong like you guys are, but she needed me, at least when we met. I wanted her to need me. I wanted someone, anyone at all to need me. I’m not a superhero. I’m just me, you know?”
“You’re incredible, Mike. You’ve been through so much and lived, that's more than some of us can say.”
“Hah, thanks. You know, I think I’m so bad at relationships because my parents were bad at them, you know? I don’t think they ever loved each other, looking back on it.” Mike took a deep breath, shaking his head. “I don’t know if I ever loved El, either.”
“Mike,” Will started, but the raven cut him off.
“I’m so sorry that I made you feel unimportant, I swear, you’re so important to me. Look, I have all the letters I wrote you back at my house, in a box under my bed. I couldn’t send any of them, cause they were all signed ‘Love, Mike’ and I was having such a difficult time admitting to myself that I liked you, god. I’ve been such a dick.”
“What’s your explanation for the birthday one?” Will joked, and Mike sighed.
“Not a good one? I really don’t have any excuse.”
“It’s okay,” Will repeated, putting a hand on Mike’s shoulder. “I’m not angry anymore. I just wanted to get it off my chest.”
“You have every right to be mad, Will. Don’t dismiss your feelings like that,” the raven whispered, standing up to be direct across from the other boy. He got down on his knees, the rain running down his curls and into his eyes.
“Get off the ground, you’re gonna get your pants wet.”
“I want to start over. I want to leave my dumbassery behind and be better for you, Will. If you think that I’m using you for whatever, I’m so sorry I gave you that impression. I just, I really like you, it makes me a bit stupid.”
“A bit?” Will chuckled, and Mike rolled his eyes, smiling. “So we’re starting over.”
“Hey, my name is Michael. But you can call me Mike.”
“My name is William, but you can call me Will.”
“Will, will you be my boyfriend?” Mike took the other boy’s cold palm in his own.
“Yeah, alright. Sounds fun.” The raven stood, pulling the other boy into a hug. Will could feel Mike’s heart against his own and buried his head into the raven's shoulder. He pulled away, leaning in and kissing his boyfriend.
The kiss tasted like rain and salt, like promises and forgiveness. It was coming home and coming alive and finally getting to rest all at once.
“Oh my god,” Will gasped.
“Yeah,” Mike reconnected their lips.
They stayed there for a little while.
—
“We should go back, the others are probably worried, and honestly I’m worried about dying of hypothermia,” Will’s teeth chattered, and Mike nodded. He opened the trunk of his car and threw some towels and jumpers into a bag, before running and putting it in Will’s passenger seat.
“Don’t leave Lucas’ car behind. He will actually kill you.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it.”
“Before we go though, I just wanted to ask you something.”
“Yeah?”
“Have you changed your mind? Cause I’m the first in line, honey I’m still free, take a chance on me?”
“Get in your damn car.”
—
“Oh my god, I’ve been worried sick!” El ran to Will as he got out of his car, running her hands along his shoulders, like she was checking he was actually real.
“I’m sorry I ran off, that was a dick move,” The boy apologised, and El looked up at him.
“It’s alright. I’m just glad you’re okay.” Max, Lucas and Dustin came and surrounded Will in a group hug, Mike joining on the outside.
“You’re such an important member of this party, Will. Never ever doubt that” Dustin said, and Will smiled.
“Thanks guys.”
“It’s raining too much to camp. Max thinks we should go find some a motel somewhere,” El explained, pointing to all their stuff under a tree.
“I refilled Lucas’ car on the way back, we should be right. Here, Mike and I can help load everything into the trunks.”
Everyone got moving, reloading the cars, trying (and failing) to not get completely soaked. Slowly but surely, the campsite emptied, and the Party loaded themselves into the cars. Max, El and Will in Lucas’ car, and the others in Mike’s.
“Shall we put on some music?” Max pulled a ‘Best of Blondie’ tape out of her bag. It had been played a bit already, and One Way Or Another started playing over the speakers.
“One way!” Will chanted.
“Or another!” El continued.
“I’m gonna find ya!” Max yelled.
The three sang in unison. “I’m gonna get ya, get ya, get ya!”
—
The motel was a breath of fresh air. With their remaining money, they’d booked 3 rooms. Two rooms with double beds for Mike, Will, Lucas and Max, and a room with two singles for El and Dustin, as well as arranging room service toasted sandwiches for dinner. The rooms were equipped with showers, dry sheets and fluffy towels, and the drenched travellers fell into their rooms and didn’t come out.
“Dibs first shower,” Will said, and when Mike didn’t object, he walked into the bathroom. He turned on the shower, making the water as warm as possible (without burning). The dirt and cold ran down the drain, and he made use of the small bottles of soap and shampoo to freshen himself up a bit. Getting out of the shower and wrapping a towel around his waist, he let Mike into the bathroom. He grabbed his sandwich off the plate, quickly scoffing it down - he hadn’t acknowledged his extreme hunger until that moment. He noticed that Mike’s plate was alreddy empty. The brunet changed into some warm pajamas and slipped into bed, closing his eyes in a moment of bliss.
The bathroom door and Mike stepped out, already changed into his pajamas. He lay down next to Will, the bed dipping slightly as he did. The younger boy rolled over to face him, smiling softly.
“Hey, you,” he said, booping Mike’s nose gently with his index finger.
“Hey, sweetheart,” Mike replied, and Will flushed slightly at the nickname. “Sorry! That just slipped out, oh my god.”
“Mike, it’s okay, promise. I like it.”
“Really?” Mike smirked, and Will groaned.
“No, I take it back, actually, I despise it. I despise you.”
“Come on, sweetheart, you don’t mean that,” the raven pouted, putting a hand on Will’s waist.
“No, I don’t,” Will grinned, leaning in to press a kiss to Mike’s forehead. “The complete opposite, actually.” The brunet wrapped his arms around the other’s shoulders, pulling him into a hug. “I really like you.”
“I really like you, too,” Mike laughed, reciprocating the hug. “I could stay here forever.”
“Me, too. We might just have to.”
“Sounds like a plan, sweetheart,”
“You’re trying to kill me.”
“No, not at all!” Mike gasped. “Maybe I just want you to kiss me.”
“You know, I never got my chance to beat your record, for the forehead kisses,” Will murmured, pulling away from the hug.
“You want a go?” Mike whispered, and Will nodded. “Alright, then. Go ahead.”
Will kissed every inch of open skin, trying to commit it all to memory. Every freckle, every sweet spot, anywhere that made Mike gasp in surprise. His lungs hurt but he continued from forehead, cheekbones, nose, jaw, neck and collar bone, holding out to beat Mike’s 86.
“I win!” He gasped, breathing heavily. “89!”
“No way,” Mike panted. “You’ll have to go again, I lost count.”
“You little shit.”
He did it anyway.
—
It was 5 am, but Mike and Will were still yet to sleep.
“What do you reckon I turn on the radio?” Mike asked, and Will frowned.
“But that means you’ll have to get up.” The two were intertwined, legs all mixed up, with Will’s head on Mike’s chest.
“Fine. Then we sleep,” Mike said, and Will wined in protest. “Come on, Will. I’m tired.”
“Ugh, you’re so annoying. Fine, we can sleep. But I better get cuddles.”
“Wouldn’t dream of anything else, sweetheart.
–
They’d only gotten 3 hours of sleep, but they were sitting in the motel’s small dining room, eating breakfast. Max and Will were playing footsie under the table while Lucas, Dustin and Mike were having an orange juice chugging competition. El was existing peacefully, reading a book.
“I reckon we head home today. It’s predicted to rain again, and if we just keep driving, we should make it back to Hawkins by dinner time,” Max said, looking at a newspaper.
“Sounds like a plan,” Will agreed. “But first, I just wanted to apologise for making you all worry yesterday, and for snapping. I really had woken up on the wrong side of the bed, but I appreciate you guys so much it's insane, and you’re all my best friends. I love you guys so much.”
“Aw, Will, I’ll cry,” Lucas smiled. “But seriously man, we love you too. I love this group, the Party forever!”
“Party forever!” The group cheered, grinning widely.
–
ABBA played on the speakers, and he sang along, not caring if it sounded good or not. Rain trickled down the windows, but the inside of the vehicle was warm and filled with good company, so it didn’t bother him at all.
And on in a car on the interstate, his new boyfriend by his side and the open road in front of him, Will felt calm.
Everything was just fine.