Chapter Text
It surprises him, really, that he’s more unsettled now than he was last year – which is insane, because he nearly went bat-shit crazy back then when Will was missing.
But now, there's something that continuously makes his heart be tugged at painfully, his wolf howling in distress for the past week.
Because Will might be here, but he's not… fully here.
Not since Mike found him in the field at school, eyes closed and whole body trembling as if he was trying to keep something out.
Then, his bunny went cold – something that unnerved Mike deeply when he touched Will again after the field incident. Because Will was always warm, Mike loved snuggling up to him whenever he felt cold during fall and winter even if Will would insist that Mike is the one who's like a furnace.
Maybe it's just Will himself who makes Mike feel warm and giddy, but he stands by his word.
Anywho, Will felt cold to the touch for the past few days but said that he still felt warm even when Mike was already shivering.
Mrs. Byers told him more than a handful of times that he could leave – that she'd be okay to keep an eye out for Will, and that everything that was happening could be too much for Mike, but Mike would always vehemently refuse.
There was no way that he was leaving his bunny, even for just a second.
Not even when Will had to be taken to the hospital because he felt like he was burning alive for reasons they didn't know. Not even when Will’s olive green eyes started turning into this deep brown – empty and soulless – and his bunny ears and tail never moved as much as even just a millimeter when they were always so expressive of what Will felt.
Mike never left even when they had to run for their lives in a hospital because the Shadow Monster used Will to spy back on them and send a shitload of demodogs to their location. He never left even when Bob died right in front of them while Will was a dead weight in his arms, and Mike had to close his eyes tightly and bury his nose into Will's neck to get even just the slightest sniff of his calming, sweet scent to no avail.
Mike stayed by Will’s side even when Will woke up in the Byers’ shed all tied up, but with no trace of himself that had burrowed his way deep into Mike's heart ever since they met. Mike stayed by his side even when he wasn't sure if Will could come back from the Shadow Monster’s hold, so he bared his heart out in front of the Chief and the Byers to try and pull Will back to them.
It was the best thing I've ever done, he said, and a tear fell down Will’s cheek to match the one on Mike's before the Shadow Monster took control of him once again.
But still, Mike didn't leave – even when Hopper figured out that Will was still there inside, fighting, as he tapped his fingers to send them a message in Morse.
He didn't leave even when he saw what Will said.
CLOSE GATE.
And it immediately unnerved him for a reason he didn't know yet.
Mike could barely focus even when demodogs came to the Byers' house, and they were narrowly saved by El’s return.
Jane, she said, as Mike smiled tearily at her – hugging her to welcome her back.
When he pulled back, he asked her,
“Jane? Did you decide on that?”
She nodded her head, then shook it after a second – unsure.
“I do not… know. It is the name Mama gave me, and it sounds pretty. But I do not know if it suits me.”
Dustin, from beside Mike, piped up.
“Sure it does! Jane's pretty, you're pretty. And it's you. If you like it better than ‘El’, then we’ll get used to it.”
El inched back when she saw Dustin, like she doesn't believe the sight. Then, she stepped closer and reached up a hand to his mouth before stopping.
“... You have… teeth?”
Dustin brightened up.
“Yeah! You wanna touch ‘em? No, wait— watch!”
He purred, and El recoiled in shock.
Lucas groaned, tiger tail swishing behind him in embarrassment.
“Dude, I told you to stop doing that, it's weird!”
Dustin flashed him his pearls in response, his small beaver ears twitching and his flat tail thumping on the wooden ground of the house.
“I'm a beaver hybrid, Lucas, why wouldn't I be proud of my teeth growing in!”
“She just came back, Dustin, maybe try holding ba—”
Jane rushed forward and hugged them both, one arm each around their shoulders.
They boys hugged her back, Lucas patting her back.
“We're so glad you're back, you saved us back there.”
El huffed, smiling.
“I missed you guys too.”
She opened her eyes, and they widened at the sight of a red-haired girl standing behind the Party.
Max breathed in to compose herself, her fox ears perking up before stepping forward as El let go of the boys.
“Hi, you must be El. I'm Max, I–I’m new here, but I've heard about you from these guys.”
El smiled a bit shakily, nervous.
“Hello, Max.”
The girls continued to talk to each other – getting to know each other. But Mike tuned them out, like his focus can't stay away too long from Will.
Will was laid back on the couch by Hopper after he had to be knocked out again when his spy senses activated, so he laid there – still and unmoving, still in a hospital gown.
Mike walked back towards him, sitting on the floor by Will and holding onto his hand. He laid his forehead on the back of Will's cold hand and closed his eyes, thinking.
Everyone else talking and trying to come up with a plan gave him time to himself – time to think of what's been bothering him when it came to Will.
And soon enough, he realized it.
The Hive Mind.
The Shadow Monster.
Will.
CLOSE GATE.
Will was just about ready to sacrifice his own life, if it meant keeping them safe from the Upside Down this time around.
When it sank in, his tears started falling involuntarily, Mike whining as he cried.
He gripped tighter onto Will’s hand, rubbing his forehead on the thin skin of his hand to try and comfort himself.
A few moments later, someone walked into the room – Mike's wolf ears picking up on the floorboards creaking, his nose knowing the scent.
Jonathan.
“Hey, Mike. Bud, you okay?”
He didn't answer, just whined once again, crooned like he could wake Will up with the sound.
Nothing happened.
Will remained asleep, and Jonathan walked closer to settle a hand in between his wolf ears.
It's something that Will usually did, but it didn't quite hit the same when he wasn't the one doing it.
Jonathan kneeled beside him, and spoke softly.
“El’s gonna close the gate. Hopper will bring her to the lab to do it.”
Mike blinked, tightened his hold on Will's hand,
“... No. We can't.”
“... What?”
“At least not yet.”
Jonathan’s hand moved from his head to his back, rubbing up and down to coax him to explain more.
“What do you mean, bud? Why can't we close the gate?”
Mike raised his head, but didn't answer. He let go of Will's hand, only to hold one of his lop ears – feeling the soft, velvet texture of the fur there. He looked at Will’s face, and wondered where he was if the Shadow Monster’s taken control of him,
“Will’s still connected to the Hive Mind. I–If we close it…”
His breathing turned shaky, lip trembling at the mere thought of losing Will.
Again.
His hand traced its way up Will’s bunny ear, trailing to his face – his cheeks.
It was so cold.
He was so cold.
By this time of the year, Will’s cheeks would be so rosy. His nose would be a matching shade of pinkish red at times too.
But now… there's nothing.
Mike's heart squeezed in pain,
“If we close the gate… they take Will with them.”
He breathed out harshly, the words sucking out any hint of warmth in the room.
Mike could feel Jonathan freeze beside him. He stopped looking at Will, turned to look at the older bunny, and talked in a whisper,
“We have to get it out of him.”
Jonathan shook his head slowly, lost.
“I don't… how?”
Mike tore his gaze away from Jonathan, looked back at Will,
“‘m not sure. But if it's using Will as its host…”
He ran the back of his fingers against Will’s cheek.
Its coldness disturbed him, still,
“He's so cold, Jonathan, Will’s never liked it this cold.”
Jonathan moved closer to him, laughing wetly as he remembered something.
“Yeah, I know. When winter comes, he always loves to get close to you. Calls you his personal space heater or something like that.”
Mike responded with a trembling laugh, stuck himself closer to Jonathan’s side and resting his head on the bunny’s shoulder.
His eyes never strayed away from his bunny,
“The Shadow Monster likes it cold, Jon. So maybe… if we make it hot enough for Will, it might leave him.”
Jonathan wrapped his arm around Mike's shoulder, pressed his cheek on Mike's head when the wolf nuzzled his nose to Jonathan's chest to try and comfort himself,
“I don't know how to do it, Jon. How to get it out of him without hurting him. Because when the tunnels were torched… y–you didn't see him, Jonathan, you didn't see him.”
He finally let go of Will, wrapped both his arms around Jonathan,
“He dropped to the ground, and it was— he was convulsing with how much pain he was in. And when the doctors took him, he was crying out my name but I couldn't do anything to help him – or even relieve him of even just the slightest bit of pain. I had to stand there, useless, while he was feeling like he was burning alive. I was so useless, Jon, why was I so useless.”
He could feel Jonathan’s tears wetting the top of his head, his hand running down Mike's back to soothe him. Jonathan tried purring to calm Mike, but the wolf’s distressed sobs continued.
“Oh, bud, you weren't useless, alright? Trust me on that. You just— just being there helped him more than enough. And you were so brave, Mike, so brave. You stayed by his side through everything, and when I wasn't there. Thank you, for making him feel safe.”
Jonathan's hand moved to stroke Mike's hair.
“We’ll get it out of him, I promise. He'll be fine, Mike. He'll be fine.”
Hopper had to fetch them – told them that they'll be going on ahead to close the gate. Jonathan had to be the one to tell everyone else about what Mike figured out, and Mrs. Byers had decided that she'd be part of the group who would get the Mind Flayer out of Will.
“We've already lost so much.”
She said, even with tears in her eyes. She stepped closer to Mike and cupped his cheeks, eyes softening as she wiped away his tears.
“We won't lose him too.”
Mike sniffled, nodded his head once. He opened his mouth, just about ready to say that he’ll go with them for Will, when—
“Stay here, alright, honey? You stay here, and you stay safe.”
Mike's face dropped, his heart dropping,
“... No… Mrs. Byers, I can’t— I can't leave Will. I have to stay beside him. Please. Please. I have to—”
Mrs. Byers shook her head, looking like she's touched and pained at Mike's pleading.
“Mike. Mike, honey, no. I don't know what will happen when we're there at the cabin. And you have already gone through so much, baby. So much. Stay here with the other kids, please. Stay here, and I promise we will bring Will back, okay? We will.”
It took everything in Mike to agree, but one look at Mrs. Byers and seeing the determination in her eyes just… reassured him.
This is Will’s mom.
This is who protected him all those years, standing up to Lonnie for her bunnies. This is who never gave up on Will last year, even when everyone in the town was calling her crazy for believing that her son was still alive.
So he nodded, tears filling his eyes.
Mrs. Byers smiled at him wetly, went up to the tips of her toes and kissed his forehead.
Soon enough, Hopper went off with Jane to go back to the lab. El said goodbye to them with a small smile on her face, and they hugged her and sent her off with a get back soon, alright?
They drove off, and the other group followed to head off to the cabin. Mrs. Byers started the car, and Jonathan carried Will to bring him to the backseat – Nancy right behind them.
The Party watched them, but Mike couldn't just stand by. At least, not without doing… something.
So, he called out,
“Jonathan! Jonathan, wait!”
Jonathan stopped just at the bottom of the steps of their porch, and Mike rushed out the door to meet them.
“Mike? Mike, you can't come with us.”
“I know. I know, just…”
Will looks so tiny in Jonathan's arms, still bundled in a blanket – his lop ears delicately fixed to lay on his chest instead of just weightlessly hanging as he's carried by his brother. He hasn't moved since earlier, no sign whatsoever that he can hear or feel anything.
But Mike pushes on.
He surged forward to press the tip of his nose to Will’s cheek, nuzzled the plushness slowly, almost sadly.
He whined, whispered,
“Come back to me, alright? Come back, Will. I still have to ask you something, and you have to answer me. So come home, bunny.”
Mike stepped back, and Jonathan looked at him, melancholic. The bunny only started moving again when Mike nodded, and he felt a firm but gentle hold on his arm – like it's a necessary precaution with how he looks like he’ll run off to chase after Jonathan's car when they started to drive off.
“C'mon, kid, let's get in the house.”
It's Steve, pulling him back into the safety of the Byers’ home.
Mike allowed himself to be moved, but his mind stayed stuck on Will.
It stayed stuck on the bunny even when Max's jerk of a brother pushed his way into the house and beat up Steve. It stayed stuck on Will even when Max threatened Billy into leaving them alone, and she swiped the keys to his car so they could drive off and join the fight – one way or another.
“C'mon, lover boy, let's help in any way that we can. I know you can't bear to sit your ass still too, with Will fighting for his life out there.”
Dustin squawked, beaver tail thumping on the floor in protest.
“What?! They told us to stay still here, if you don't remember. And besides, what can we even do?”
Mike shifted his gaze from Max to Dustin,
“The tunnels. Maybe… maybe we could help E— Jane in closing the gate and Will in getting the Mind Flayer out. The lab was filled with demodogs, so if we burn the tunnels, they’ll probably run to the tunnels.”
“And Will?”
Lucas stood there with his arms crossed, eyebrows furrowed in worry.
“You said he's connected to the Hive Mind. If the demodogs come running to the tunnels because they're hurt, then wouldn't that hurt Will too?”
He met Lucas’ concerned gaze with his own,
“We have to help him get rid of the Mind Flayer. We can't just stay here and do nothing.”
Lucas stepped closer, tiger ears alert.
“But what if that hurts him? Hell, Mike, what if he dies—”
Mike's nose scrunched in anger at the mere thought, a growl escaping his throat,
“He won't. It's Will, he's strong. Stronger than any of us, maybe even all of us combined. He won't die.”
Silence enveloped the room, no one daring to speak up to the wolf.
But it goes unsaid that it's like Mike was trying to convince himself with his words. Because the plan would work for El, yes – but for Will?
Maybe it could help him, or maybe it could kill him.
But also, maybe he could die if they don't do anything. Who knows what would happen, the Byers were preparing for something like an exorcism to happen just to get Will back.
Mike's persistence is something that the whole Party needs right now, so no one dared to say otherwise. Instead, Max whispered a low come on to Lucas, and Dustin nudged his head towards the knocked-out Steve to ask for help in carrying him to the car.
Max took the driver’s seat with Lucas on the passenger side. And Mike was aware that he should have been panicking more that a thirteen year-old was driving a car, but he couldn't find it in himself to care.
They made their way down to the tunnels and doused the Core with gasoline a few minutes later. The lighter was in Mike's hand – he just had to throw it to the ground, but he suddenly found himself freezing.
The memory of Will falling to his knees and clutching onto his middle flooded his mind. Will falling to his side, making pained noises as his eyes closed. Then, he turned flat on his back, screaming and shaking and trembling on the ground.
If what they do hurts him again like that, could Mike live with himself?
He breathed out harshly, capping the lighter with a click,
“... I can't.”
He shook his head, closed his eyes tightly, and clutched onto his hair. He started to hit himself by his temples or by the back of his head, trying to shake off the vivid images of Will almost having a seizure,
“I can't, I can't, I can't—”
“Mike? Mike!”
“I can't, I can't, I can't, I can't—”
“Mike, stop it!”
“Mike—”
“Wheeler, hey! Hey, stop it, stop!”
There's a firm grip on his forearms, pulling his hands back from hitting himself. He opens his eyes and sees Steve crouched down in front of him, goldie ears twitching slightly.
“C'mon kid, breathe.”
Mike followed, breathing staggered,
“... I can't, Steve. What if I hurt him?”
Steve stood up to his full height, raised a hand – hovered it over Mike's wolf ears, unsure if they're close enough for him to do that, before ultimately squashing down the uncertainty.
“That kid Byers is as strong as they get, Wheeler. I don't think I've ever met anyone who did the things he did before – and I don't think there will ever be anyone like that. Just trust him, yeah? This'll get him back.”
He ruffled Mike's hair reassuringly.
“Now, come on. Give me that lighter. Let's get this show on the road and get you back your friend, okay?”
Mike breathed in shakily, nodded and handed Steve the lighter,
“Let's get Will back.”
Steve took it from him, pushed them to stand behind him. He took a moment to himself before throwing the lighter to the ground. Immediately, the place was engulfed in flames – vines screeching as they flopped around and shrivelled.
Stay safe, Will, Mike thought.
Come back to me.
Steve ushered them away, rushing them towards the rope they used to enter the tunnels. He drove them back to the Byers' house, and Mike stayed quiet at the backseat even when the Party conversed amongst themselves about the dozens of demodogs that ran by them as they were leaving – about Dart who spared them as it recognized Dustin somehow. Mike curled into himself on his seat by the door, pressing his temple to the cool glass panel of the window, fingers interlaced like he was praying.
And maybe he was, even if he wasn't religious.
He was praying, calling out to any deity or being out there to hear him and bring Will back to him.
By the time they were back at the house, the rest of the kids were asleep – Dustin in the passenger seat, Max and Lucas beside him with their heads resting on each other.
Mike wouldn't have noticed they were back with how tightly his eyes were shut, if not for Steve turning around in the driver's seat and shaking him gently.
“Mike. I know you're awake. You wanna go ahead into the house? I’ll take care of these, uh… rascals.”
Mike scoffed fondly – more of a laugh, really, as he opened his eyes,
“Y'know, I think you're shaping up to be a pretty good babysitter.”
“Alright. Get outta here, you brat.”
Mike huffed as he avoided Steve's swatting hand, opened the door of the car and let himself out.
As if on autopilot, his feet led him to Will's bedroom.
He took a minute to just glance at the room from the door frame, looking longingly at the bed that looks like a nest.
Will's nest.
Mike stepped into the room and towards the bed slowly, then sat down on the mattress gently – reverently. He crawled to the middle without moving anything as much as he could, then laid down carefully.
He snuggled into the sheets, curling into himself as he closed his eyes and inhaled.
It smelled like vanilla and cinnamon.
Like Will.
Like home.
He turned his head to the pillows and nuzzled his nose there, letting himself relax for a second.
Then—
He shot up on the bed when he heard the creak of the door, holding his breath until his eyes focused on the sight in front of him.
It's Jonathan, Will in his arms.
“Oh. Mike. You're here, bud?”
Mike's face crumples at the sight of Will.
He can't see him clearly yet, but from what he can see, Will's skin somehow looks paler than before – dark circles around his closed eyes. His hair is slicked back, and his skin is wet with what Mike can smell is sweat.
Will's hand falls from where it was resting on his tummy, and Mike's eyes follow the movement.
The skin of his wrist is this reddish, purplish color. Mike sniffs in, and his nose catches the scent of dried blood – he doesn't doubt that if he looks closer at Will’s wrist, there would be wounds there.
He's got a sinking feeling what they're from, and when his eyes dart to Will's legs, his guess is confirmed as he sees matching bruises and wounds along Will's ankles.
They tied him up, for the… the exorcism.
And Will struggled so much that the ropes they bound him with abraded and dug into his skin.
Will looks almost deathly, unmoving and with his arm loosely hanging. And in Mike's panicked state, he couldn't hear Will’s heartbeat,
“Jonathan. Is… Is he—”
Did I lose him?
Is he…
Jonathan shakes his head, trying to smile at him.
“No. Mike, no, god, it's okay, don't worry. He's… He's here. He came back to us. He came back to you.”
And then…
Mike's lip wobbles, tears immediately falling down his cheeks as the dam broke and the string snapped inside him. All tension fell apart, and Mike could only try to stifle his sobs as they wracked his body – sobs of relief.
Jonathan's eyebrows knit at the sounds that Mike was making, so he closed the distance between them and started to lay Will down on his bed – his nest.
Mike scoots back to make room for Will. And at the very second that the older bunny had let go of Will, Mike plops his head down on Will’s chest – ear flat on his sternum. His whines turn into croons once he hears the soft but steady ba-dum, ba-dum of Will's heart.
He circles his arms around Will's waist, shifts his head so his cheek is right on top of Will's heart and he could feel the vibrations of the pulsing of the bunny's heart.
Jonathan huffs out a laugh at the familiar sight, and he ruffles Mike's hair right in between his wolf ears.
“I’ll leave you two be, alright? Everyone else is just outside – around the house.”
Mike doesn't want to dislodge himself from his spot, so he just hums in affirmation. He closes his eyes and snuggles closer to Will, hears Jonathan's retreating footsteps and the creak of the door as he shuts it.
He inhales deeply, basking in Will's scent. He shifts around until he finds where it's strongest, ends up with his nose pressed to Will’s neck – right at the junction where his neck met his shoulder.
He's so comfortable, so at home, that he doesn't realize that he drifted off. Not until—
Fingers fiddling with the tip of his wolf ear.
“Puppy?”
Mike inhales sharply, head snapping up.
Will is awake, tired hazel eyes gazing at Mike. There's a bit more color to his cheeks now, the apples slightly the pinkish-red shade that Mike had unknowingly missed,
“Bunny. Will.”
Mike surges upward to hug Will, and—
Nudges his nose to Will's cheek, nuzzles it.
Will exhales deeply once he does it, whole body relaxing and practically melting.
“Mike.”
With how close they are, Mike sneaks a kiss onto Will's cheek, smiling against the plushness afterwards,
“Bunny. Bunny, I missed you. Are— Are you okay? Finally back?”
Will nods, a few tears escaping.
“Yeah. Yes. And I'm okay, just hurts a bit in some places.”
Mike pulls back, eyes darting all around Will's face,
“W–Where does it hurt?”
Will smiles at his protectiveness, saccharine and delicate.
“M–my wrists hurt. The rope, they…”
Mike furrows his eyebrows, reaches for Will's right wrist and brings it up closer to him.
There are bruises around it – purples and reds coloring the skin – and there are slight lines of abrasion.
“My wrists and ankles were tied, so I couldn't escape. I remember it being so hot, and… the Shadow Monster didn't like that. He resisted so much, and—”
Without thinking much about it, Mike kisses Will's palm – just above the irritated skin.
Will cuts himself off with a gasp.
Mike looks back to his face, sees his doe eyes big and blinking, his cheeks a brighter red.
Mike blinks at him,
“... What?”
When Will doesn't answer, just blinks back at him, Mike continues. He sits them up, and reaches for Will's other wrist, lifts it to his lips and kisses the same spot on the bunny's palm.
Mike smiles to himself afterwards,
“Okay! They'll heal faster now. Where'd you say the other wounds are? Your ankles?”
He starts scooching down the bed, and Will squeaks.
“Mike! Don't you dare!”
“What?”
Will purses his lips, goes for one of his wolf ears and pinches the tip.
Mike squawks, pulling away from the berating touch. Once he's free, he shakes his head like he's drying himself. When he's done, his hair is a mess of curls, fur of his ears untamed,
“What was that for?!”
“You were gonna kiss my feet, Mike!”
He narrows his eyes, confused,
“Yeah, and?”
Will’s mouth gapes in disbelief.
“Y–You can't do that!”
Mike whines,
“Why not?”
Will giggles.
“You're crazy.”
Mike smiles at him, laces their fingers together,
“Crazy together, right?”
Will smiles back sweetly, leans forward and encircles his arms around Mike's neck to hug him.
Mike nuzzles his nose to Will's cheek again, then slides his arms around Will’s waist.
Will yelps, jerking back from the hug. Mike jolts in response.
“... Ow.”
Mike bends down and tries to peer at what caused Will pain. Sure enough, there's a spot on the hospital gown by his waist – black and charred,
“... Will, what—”
“I forgot that happened. I guess I just… I was so tired, and everything was kind of painful that my mind didn't remember.”
Mike hovers his hand over the spot,
“What happened?”
Will furrows his eyebrows.
“Um… I think… I think Nancy did it. I remember the poker stick, but who did it is… kinda fuzzy.”
Mike’s eyes snap back to Will’s, inhaling sharply – a bit of anger simmering,
“Nancy—”
Will looks at him, exasperatedly.
“Mike, puppy, don't. What Nancy did helped. It was… it was the final straw for the Shadow Monster to let go. So don't be angry at Nancy, okay? I wouldn't be here if it weren't for what she did.”
But Mike's eyebrows are still furrowed, looking like he's debating if he’ll march up to Nancy tomorrow and berate her.
Will huffs, reaches up and uses his thumb to smooth the space in between Mike's eyebrows.
“Stop being angry. Don't be angry, Mikey.”
It takes a few moments, but eventually Mike relents to Will. He wraps an arm around Will's uninjured side, and gingerly leads them to lie down on the bed,
“Fine. But we're taking care of these wounds first thing when we wake up.”
Will nods, small smile on his lips.
“You were really gonna be angry at Nancy for me?”
Mike chuffs at Will's teasing,
“What of it? I’ll protect my bunny from anyone – even if it's my own sister.”
Will giggles, moves closer to Mike without jostling his side too much. When he's in Mike's space, Will nudges his nose to Mike's chin.
“My hero.”
Mike could feel his cheeks warming at Will's words. He noses at Will's forehead in response to Will,
“Your paladin.”
Mike wraps his other arm around Will's shoulder, rests his hand on the back of Will's head and leads it to his neck. Will breathes in deeply, and is almost lulled to sleep at Mike's scent.
It's a few minutes of silence between them – minutes that have Will getting closer and closer to falling asleep, but Mike remains awake.
There's a question still ringing inside his mind,
“Hey, Will?”
Will takes a handful of seconds to respond, humming sleepily to acknowledge Mike as he nuzzles closer to Mike's neck.
Mike smiles at his cuteness, brushing away Will's bangs from his forehead fondly,
“Earlier, I said I had something to ask you. Could I ask it now?”
Will hums again, too tired to answer him. Mike traces his fingers from Will's forehead down to the base of his bunny ears, pads of his fingers gently feeling the velvetness of the fur,
“So… you know how the Snowball is coming up?”
That seems to wake Will up a bit.
“... Yeah?”
Mike inhales, building up the courage to what he's going to say next,
“Yeah, so… do you… maybe wanna go with me?”
Will's still nestled in his neck, but Mike can feel him open his eyes as his lashes flutter against Mike's jugular.
“To the… Snowball?”
“Yeah.”
Will retreats a bit, but doesn't look up at Mike.
“Mike, I… people wouldn't… they won't like it, two boys being together at the dance. They'll talk when they see us.”
Mike frames Will's cheek, coaxes the bunny wordlessly to look at him,
“We don't have to dance in front of everyone if you don't want to. I can fix up the AV Room, or maybe even our basement so we can dance by ourselves. But I just… I really want to spend the night with you.”
Will's doe eyes widen, slowly starting to shine with unshed tears. Then, he smiles – and Mike feels like he could fly.
“Okay.”
Mike smiles back at him in disbelief,
“Okay?”
Will hums, and Mike strokes his thumb across Will's cheek,
“You'll go with me to the Snowball?”
Will nods, hums again to say yes.
Mike smiles wider, brighter. He pulls Will's face closer, and nuzzles his nose on Will's cheek,
“It's a date, bunny.”