Chapter Text
The comic book store wasn’t far from The Wheeler's house, maybe ten minutes, but it felt like ages after the talk Mike and Will shared, Will felt a relief for some things he thought he would never feel relieved about. The afternoon was stretching out in front of them, the sun was high in the sky and the clouds blinded into the light blue of it. It was pretty, and Mike was in love with Will, it made Will want to cry again. Mike Wheeler was in love with Will Byers. It felt wonderful. They didn’t talk much the rest of the ride to the comic book store, it felt like there wasn’t much to say, well there was too much to say, but in that moment Will was just happy to exist.
When they pulled up to town they found that Lucas and Dustin were outside of the store waiting for them. “What took you so long?” Dustin asked “Yeah, you two are forty five minutes late!” They parked their bikes next to Lucas’s and Dustin’s “Sorry, we encountered a few compilations along the way.” Lucas scoffed at this “Compilations, what do you mean?” Mike sighed “ I mean we talked about what happened between Jane and I, Will had no idea we broke up.” “What? You didn’t know Will?” said Dustin, giving him a confused look. Will shuffled a bit then nodded. “Whoa that’s crazy.” Dustin said “Anyways lets get some Comics” said Lucas They shuffled inside and perused the shelves for some time, Will found a comic that Mike had been trying to find for ages, on the ‘newly added shelf’ he made his way over to where Lucas and Mike were “Mike!” Mike turned to him “what?” Will moved closer “I found it.” he gave Mike the comic book in his hand “Oh thank you Will!” Will was bright red, “you’re welcome” They shared a grin then returned to looking at the comics. The early afternoon was nice, they all talked about the summer plans, it was now arranged that next week they were all going to the beach, and they talked about what they were going to do about the first crawl that night at the WSQK.
Hop and Jane found out that the Military was doing what they called ‘burnouts’ to get to the military base in the upside down from the only opened to the upside down being the library. Tonight they were planning on going in to find out what the Military has in that base, they had a simple plan: let Hop go into the base, track him with the radio van by signal and have a few look outs. It didn’t seem to be a crazy plan, Will just wanted to be a part of it unlike some of their other plans.
The wind picked up a bit as they parted ways “Bye guys” waved Dustin “Yeah byeeeeee!” said Lucas as he mounted on his bike. “Okay, see you at the crawl tonight” said Will “Yeah the crawl.” Will And Mike were heading back to the Wheeler's, the time was a little past Three and they were ready to be home.
The day had been very eventful for Will, the event being Mike.
Has he always loved me?
Yes
Yes he has
The thought bubbled up in Will as they pulled their bikes up to the house. Everything was perfect, he knew he needed to talk to Mike about everything and nothing but as of now he just wanted to paint in the basement with his thoughts. Upon entering the house to Will’s surprise Holly imminently pulled Will aside to talk. They have been talking a lot lately, Will enjoys talking with Holly but it makes him miss Jane more. His sister knows more about Mike, who has been the main reason Will needs to talk, and she is like him in so many ways. Holly soon pulled Will into the basement and then began talking.
“Will I think I know what’s wrong with Mike, he is reading so many comics that his brain is slowly falling out of his ears, i herd mom say something how bad books destroy the mind and–”
“Holly i don’t think his brain has been falling out of his ears, and he talked to me so i think he’s not as crazy anymore.” “Oh? What did he say, did the military get to him and make him eat blueberries or something?” “Wha–no. No military, he just explained some stuff.” “Well he is still weird, make sure he doesn’t go berserk.” Will chuckled, “Okay I will do that.” She nodded and they started laughing.
It felt nice to laugh, Will found these days he didn’t laugh as much. End of the world and everything. But the two of them laughed their way back up the stairs and into the kitchen where Mike was. He looked in between Will and Holly, Will saw something in Mike’s eyes for a second, but then it was gone. He seemed happy. Holly was soon off to her room and Will and Mike were soon up the stairs and in Mike’s room, it felt a little smaller now, they had grown up so much and had shared so many memories in this very room. Will loved Mike’s room, it smelt of him, the smell of the strawberry shampoo Mike would borrow from Nancy, because it made his curls more defined was in the air and it was intoxicating to Will.
Mike was smiling at Will now, Will grinds back at him, his face a little pink. He wanted to act on what was said earlier, how Mike said he loves Will, Will wanted to kiss him for it, wanted him to know he loved him by showing him he did, he wanted to hold him close and kiss him softly. There wasn’t much stopping him. He could get close and kiss Mike right there in Mike’s room, but he wanted Mike to have the time he needed to sort whatever he needed to sort out. He wanted Mike to be ready too, not just him. He didn’t want to wait, selfishly so, he wanted to act, there was so much time that they could have spent in love, that they hadn’t spent, he wanted Mike to be loved with everything he had. It was really hard for Will to look at Mike with these thoughts in his head but he stood there still staring at the boy he’s loved for years that he knows has loved him, and loves him. He breathed in sharply.
“Mike, I know now that you didn’t want to hurt me. But can I ask why you didn’t write me a letter or call?”
Mike knew what he was talking about, he knew Will was talking about Cal, he knew Will wanted to hear the real reason and not anything else.
“I did call, every day, but the line was always busy and I didn't feel like leaving a message, and I wrote to you as well. I just didn’t send the letters because I got all sappy in each one. It was hell here in Hawkins without you. I found out that the feelings I felt weren’t how I was supposed to feel about my best friend, and the way I felt towards my own girlfriend was more platonic then it should have been. I was scared and I wasn't aware of how it affected everyone around me.”
Will nodded, he wasn’t upset, he would never be, he was just true and there with Mike, His eyes were stinging a little and he nodded again “I thought you forgot about me.” “I could never forget you, Will.” Will wiped his eyes then asked “So do you want to read the comic we got?” Mike had almost forgotten that’s why they were up there, he had asked Will if they could read the comic when they got home. “Yeah.” They sat on the edge of Mike’s bed and Will took the comic out of his backpack, they sat there reading it like they would do when they were kids, Mike holding the comic as Will would turn the page. And they read until dinner, the soft hum for Holly and Karen downstairs in the kitchen and the sound of Holly making her way up the stairs to Mike's room then opening then door and saying "DINNER IS READY!" while smiling happily as she turned away from the door and bounced back down the hallway. Dinner was uneventful, nothing out of the ordinary happened well except for Mike and Will's hands brushing past one another like every few seconds under the table. Karen had made fried chicken, mashed potatoes and green beans, Will always like Karen's cooking. Joyce didn't have time to make a lot of home cooked meals growing up. Will didn't mind it, he loved the way his mom was but It was nice to have that every evening now. Nancy and Johnathan shared a look as Will scarfed down his food. He didn't catch what they were sharing glances about and frankly all he was thinking of was how Mike had his hand on his thigh.Not forcefully, but just there, like it belonged.
They were soon out the door, heading to the WSQK for the crawl. Johnathan and Nancy took Johnathan's car. It was 7 o'clock when they arrived, Hop explained the plan again; Steve and Dustin were going to operate the Van, tracking Hop. Lucas and Mike were going to look out at the base and Will was staying put at the radio shack “But why can’t I go with them!” He complained. “Will it’s too dangerous for you to go with Lucas and Mike. You are staying here with Robin” Said Joyce “Mom i’m not some little kid i can look after myself.” “I know but it’s just not something we need to risk right now.” he scowled at her then sat down on the couch.
This was going to be so fun he thought.