Chapter Text
Will, no matter how much he wanted to slow down, had a long, work loaded weekend after his Friday night excursion. Multiple low tier robberies and plenty of straight up stupidity from his villain of the week left him sweating and tired on Sunday night. He chose his favorite spot, criss-cross on his ceiling, to sit and talk with Jane and Dustin.
“C’mon, Will, you can do it! It’s not that hard.” Dustin cheered at him. Jane chimed in as well by enthusiastically pumping her arms up in the background. The thing he was referring to was how Dustin had dared him to attempt eating an entire bowl of ramen—with chopsticks—while upside down. It was a fun challenge Will could use to distract himself from his weekend.
Eventually, Will slurped down the whole bowl, no matter how difficult it was, dropping his bowl to place his arms up—or down?— in celebration.
Nights like these Will had always enjoyed. Something slow and fun, with people he trusted fully, allowing him to shed the strong mask he had built up as Brooklyn’s hero. These two were ones who knew everything about Will. He didn’t have to hide to protect himself. He could just breathe.
“So Will, you still not planning on making progress on Project MMJFILWM?” Dustin asked casually. After all this time, the acronym had started to roll off his tongue naturally.
Project MMJFILWM—or Project Make Michael James Fall in Love with Me—was created the second Jane and Dustin learned about Will's teeny-tiny-totally-not-head-over-ass-in-love crush. They were very adamant on getting the two together. Jane had to do a lot of convincing at first that pursuing him would even be ok, seeing as Jane and MJ had dated for close to a year or two when they were younger. Still, Will couldn’t stand the thought of putting himself out like that. Just getting MJ to notice his horrendous flirting was a hurdle he hadn’t even tried to jump yet.
“Still no, Jane the Pain. I risk my life enough every day, I don’t need to take any more chances.” Will retorted, leaving Jane’s smile to fall into an exaggerated frown. Dustin rolled his eyes at the thought.
“Seriously dude, how do you not notice it? MJ likes you—like likes you.” Dustin sounded like a sixth grader, trying to make Will’s feelings sound minute and elementary. But could they understand?
Sure, Dustin had been interested in Jane since the first day they met, Will knew that. But he didn’t believe those feelings held a candle to what he felt for MJ. Even slightly brushing knees caused a powerful burn up Will’s side that felt like some form of comforting arson, enveloping him in a sweet layer of heat. Seeing his reflection in MJ’s dark irises was like seeing an evil crystal ball, the possibilities of a beautiful future that Will knew he would never get. William Byers needed MJ like the Sun needs the Moon, but as Will was the moon, he would only be able to stay the thousands of miles apart that they are, watching MJ’s beauty shine and reflect on everything around him.
While still in his head, Will let out a quiet scoff at his friend’s words. His brain was thinking of a witty response, but before it formed, he heard his apartment’s front door creak. Everyone’s eyes went wide as Will ejected himself from the ceiling, nearly crushing his neck.
Will’s mother, Joyce, emerged from the hallway into Will’s bedroom. After his fall, Will decided the most casual way to play it off was by laying on the ground, one hand holding up his chin. He would totally do this on the fly—it was very normal!
“Hey, kiddos. Oh, and Dustin!” Joyce waved at her twins and the third musketeer who always tagged along, used to seeing them here after work.
“Hey mom, how was work?” Jane piped up, trying to avoid the awkward tension the room held.
“Oh, y’know. Same old, same old. Say, I did see MJ heading out when I was coming in. I assumed he was coming here, but I guess not! Do you know anything about it? It’s awfully late for him to be going out alone.”
Immediately, the back of Will’s neck pricked up. He thought of MJ, alone on the streets that were full of criminals—ones Will had encountered first-hand. Even if MJ was tall, he was very uncoordinated. If anyone tried to attack him, then–
“I’ll call him!” Will quickly popped up, grabbing his phone and heading to the bathroom to call MJ while also slipping his suit under his regular clothes. He had to be prepared.
Dustin and Jane, knowing all too well what he was doing, just nodded and let him go off.
“O-Oh, alright! Well, if he’s out alone, tell him to come home right away. That’s just not safe.” Joyce had always been overprotective—not just over her own kids, but the entire Party. They were all her kids, in a way.
After slipping into the bathroom, Will rang MJ while changing into his suit.
A ring or two went by before it connected. “Hey man, what’s up?”
“Seriously dude, how do you not notice it? MJ likes you—like likes you.”
Someone who ‘like-likes’ someone doesn’t call them ‘man’ when they answer the phone. So much for Dustin’s sixth sense.
“Yeah, uh, my mom said she saw you leaving your house? It’s late, what are you doing out?” Will was always innately caring towards those he cared about, but those feelings were turned up to 100 for MJ.
He could hear a bit of hesitation through the speaker as he pulled his arms into his suit. What was MJ doing? “Ah, yeah. Just…needed to clear my head.”
It sounded so casual, but Will knew it had stronger connotations. MJ went on walks when his brain was spiraling. Will’s mind flashed back to the many walks they took after MJ moved out of his parents house, fearing them divorcing and what it would do to Holly. MJ got in his own head a lot, and Will always tried to be there for him.
“MJ, you know I have your location, right?”
“Shit.” It came out muffled while Will began covering his suit with his normal clothes.
“And you do know that–”
“You’re sneaking out of your house to come find me, like a dumbass.”
Will couldn’t help but snicker as he was doing quite literally that, hoisting himself onto the toilet to stick his legs out the narrow opening of his bathroom window.
“No, I would never!” Will spoke in mock surrender.
MJ allowed himself a small laugh, but it sounded strained. Forceful. Will could tell he needed to get there quickly. He slid his mask on, just to be safe, then swung out into the night. Still on the phone with MJ, while also checking his location.
“Ok, well I’m headed that way. Don’t do anything stupid. By–”
“Don’t hang up.”
The sudden seriousness in his voice made Will halt. His breath hitched in his throat as he paused on a rooftop. What was wrong that would make MJ act like this?
“Ok, um…is everything alright?” Will began speaking as his swings continued, quicker now than before. He could only hear MJ’s breathing.
“Yeah, more or less. It’s just…” Hesitation. Fear. That was all Will heard through the phone.
“MJ, obviously something’s bothering you. You don’t have to tell me now, but when I get to you, you will be telling me. Got it?”
He could hear MJ clear his throat over the line, and Will hated how attractive it sounded because dammit brain, this was not the time. Finally, Will found himself looking down at MJ. So, after removing his mask, he strategically lowered himself in an alleyway behind him. Still hearing MJ's groan reverberate in his head.
Finally, an answer. “Okay.”
“Good, because I’m here.”
Will hung up the phone as MJ turned slowly to face him. Will walked up casually, trying to be calm and not worsen things. MJ's face looked nothing less than broken. It was killing him. His eyes were a bit sunk in, his face shrill and almost scared. Even if this type of look was new on MJ, it was still the same boy Will had always known. He assumed MJ would just want to silently walk with him, maybe even talk about what had him like this. But, instead of being the calm, quiet, somewhat rational MJ that Will thought he knew, MJ rushed himself towards Will, doing something Will found unthinkable.
He lifted his arms, wrapping them over Will's shoulder, grabbing them tightly like they were the only thing anchoring him down. He tucked his head down on Will's shoulder, short breaths puffing onto Will's jacket. Nothing was left inside him but utter shock.
What?