Chapter Text
The bus from Michigan arrived at the Hawkins depot at 4 37 on a Friday afternoon. Will had been there since 3 45 unable to sit still pacing the platform like a caged animal. El stood nearby a patient witness to his nervous energy.
He will come she said simply. You do not need to wear a hole in the ground.
I know Will said. I just I need to see him.
The bus appeared in the distance a smudge of grey against the grey March sky. Will forgot to breathe. The bus pulled into the stop the doors opened with a hiss and then Mike was there stepping off the bus with a duffel bag slung over his shoulder looking tired and rumpled and absolutely perfect.
Will ran.
He didnt care who saw. He didnt care what anyone thought. He ran across the platform and crashed into Mike wrapping his arms around him so tight he was probably cutting off circulation. Mike dropped his bag and held on just as tight both of them shaking with the force of four months of longing finally released.
Youre here Will whispered into Mikes neck. Youre actually here.
Im here Mike said his voice thick. Im home.
They stood like that for a long time ignoring the curious stares of other passengers ignoring Els knowing smile ignoring everything except the feeling of being together again.
Finally they pulled apart. Mike cupped Wills face in his hands and looked at him like he was memorizing every detail. Youre even more beautiful than I remembered.
Will laughed a wet shaky sound. Youre even more ridiculous than I remembered.
Mike grinned. Some things never change.
El joined them then pulling Mike into a hug of her own. Welcome home Mike she said. Will has been very annoying without you.
Thanks El Mike said laughing. Good to see you too.
The week that followed was everything they had dreamed of and nothing like they expected. There was joy yes hours of just being together of holding hands in the back of the Wheeler basement of stealing kisses in the kitchen when no one was looking. But there was also fear. Fear of what came next. Fear of the future. Fear that this happiness was too fragile to last.
It came to a head on their last night together.
The Party had organized a camping trip a final celebration before Mike had to go back to Michigan. They drove out to the quarry a spot far from the memories of the Upside Down and set up tents under a sky full of stars.
The evening was perfect. Dustin told terrible ghost stories. Lucas cooked hot dogs to varying degrees of charred. Max and El sat close together sharing a blanket and quiet smiles. For a few hours they were just kids again free from the weight of everything they had survived.
After everyone else had gone to bed Will and Mike sat by the dying fire wrapped in the same blanket watching the stars.
I dont want to go back Mike said quietly. I know I have to. I know theres only a few months left until graduation and then everything changes anyway. But I dont want to leave you again.
Will leaned his head on Mikes shoulder. I know. Me neither.
What if Mike started then stopped.
What if what
What if I dont go back Mike said the words tumbling out in a rush. What if I stay here finish school in Hawkins and just figure out the college thing later. My parents would freak but they freak about everything anyway. I could
No Will sat up turning to face him. Mike no. You cant throw away your future for me.
Its not throwing away. Its choosing. Im choosing you Will.
And I love you for that Will said his voice firm. I love you so much it scares me sometimes. But I wont let you give up your education your opportunities because youre scared of a few more months apart. Weve made it this far. We can make it a little longer.
Mike stared at him his expression a battle between frustration and love. How do you always do that
Do what
Be the brave one. Be the one who sees clearly when everyones else is panicking. Youre supposed to be the cleric holding the light for me but half the time youre the one leading the way.
Will smiled softly. Maybe we take turns. Maybe thats how it works.
They sat in silence for a moment the fire crackling softly between them. Then Mike spoke again his voice different now serious.
Will I need to tell you something. About the future.
Wills heart clenched. Okay.
Ive been thinking a lot about what comes after graduation. After Michigan. After all of this. And I know what I want. I want to go to art school. Not for me for you. I want to go wherever you go. I want to build a life with you.
Will stared at him. Mike you cant plan your whole future around
Let me finish. Mike took his hand. Im not planning my whole future around you. Im planning my future with you. Theres a difference. Ive spent this whole year learning that the only thing that really matters is being with the people who make you feel like yourself. You make me feel like myself Will. You always have.
Tears were streaming down Wills face again. He seemed to cry so much these days but they were good tears healing tears.
I want that Will whispered. I want that so much.
Then theyll find a way. Mike said firmly. We always do.
They kissed then soft and sweet and full of promise. When they pulled apart they stayed close foreheads touching breathing the same air.
Mike reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box. I was going to wait for the right moment but I dont think theres ever a right moment for something like this.
Will opened the box with trembling fingers. Inside was a silver chain with two pendants a knight and a cleric crafted in delicate detail.
I had them made Mike explained. Based on your painting. So we can always carry each other with us. Even when were apart.
Will lifted the chain from the box his hands shaking. Mike this is This is
The most ridiculous romantic gesture youve ever seen Mike finished with a self conscious laugh. I know. Dustin helped me design them. He said and I quote if youre going to be dramatic be dramatic with style.
Will laughed through his tears. I love Dustin.
I love you Mike said simply. More than dragons and dungeons and everything else combined.
Will put the chain around his neck the cleric pendant resting over his heart. He took the knight pendant and fastened it around Mikes neck.
Now we both carry the light Will said softly. Now we both get to see.
The next morning Mike got on the bus back to Michigan. It was hard. It was so hard. But this time as Will watched the bus disappear into the distance he didnt feel like his heart was being ripped out.
He felt like it was expanding. Making room for all the possibilities ahead.
The year of silence was over. The year of living honestly had begun.
And for the first time Will Byers wasnt afraid of the future. He was ready for it. He had his knight. He had his light. He had a necklace warm against his chest and a ring on his finger and a boy in Michigan who loved him.
The rest they would figure out together.
Summer came in a blaze of heat and cicadas. Mike returned from Michigan for good his private school experiment officially over. Graduation approached for the seniors while the juniors like Will and Mike looked ahead to their final year.
The Party gathered at the quarry for one last campfire before college plans started pulling them in different directions. Lucas had a basketball scholarship. Dustin was headed to some science program in Indiana. Max was looking at schools out west. El was still figuring it out but Hopper had mentioned a program in New York that might interest her.
Everything was changing. But some things stayed the same.
Will sat with Mike by the fire the knight and cleric pendants catching the light. Around them their family laughed and argued and planned for futures that stretched out like the stars above.
Scary isnt it Mike said quietly. All the change.
Yeah Will agreed. But good scary. The kind of scary where you know something amazing is about to happen.
Mike smiled that smile that was just for Will. Together
Together Will said. Always together.
And under the summer sky surrounded by the people they loved Will Byers finally understood what it meant to be home. Not a place. Not a building. A feeling. A person. A boy with dark eyes and a knight pendant and a love so strong it had survived monsters and dimensions and half a continent of distance.
Home was Mike. And Mike was home.
The year of living honestly stretched ahead of them full of possibilities and challenges and a love that would only grow stronger with time.
Will traced the cleric pendant with his finger and smiled.
He was still here. He was finally himself. And that was the greatest victory of all.
The End.