Work Text:
“Would you guys shut up already?” Will called over the two teenagers in the front’s loud bickering.
“Chill man, we’re just joking, right?” Argyle said, voice slurred and disconnected. Jonathan murmured something nonsensical before realising he was being asked a question.
“Yeah, yeah, totally,” He nodded, and they both began to laugh uncontrollably. Will rolled his eyes, collapsing into the back of the truck. They’d been like this ever since the four of them had set off for Nevada, the apparent location of the Nina Project (and, therefore, Eleven).
Will looked across at Mike who, to his surprise, immediately held his gaze. Will realised he must’ve been staring and his cheeks began to grow warm. Neither of them said anything for a moment, entranced. Until Mike coughed awkwardly and practically tore his eyes away, successfully crushing the atmosphere. Will cursed internally for yet again allowing himself a sliver of hope.
“They’re absolutely stoned,” He said, to break the obvious tension. Mike snorted a laugh, and that was that. Back to their normal selves again.
It had been like this all summer. Ever since Mike had come to California and Will had to watch as he completely bypassed his so called ‘best friend’ and instead paid attention only to El, kissing her so often it was almost as if he knew what it did to Will. But it was there. In the stolen glances from opposite ends of the room, in the fleeting touches - Mike’s hand on the base of Will’s neck, gently guiding him forwards, or Will going to pass Mike something, but neither pulling away soon enough for that to be all it was - and in the longing gaze Will couldn’t help but direct at Mike, the same look he had almost thought he’d seen reflected in his best friend’s own eyes.
But, as Will so often had to remind himself, Mike had El. They were endgame. It was obvious to anyone. Mike wouldn’t give that up in a million years. So, that’s all they were. Looks and touches. Perhaps something more in different circumstances, in some parallel universe where Eleven didn’t exist and Will might actually have a chance.
Of course, he didn’t really mean that. He loved his sister, and he knew he would do anything for her if it came to it. That couldn’t stop him dreaming though.
“How long until we get there?” Mike asked.
“I think about four or five hours?” Will responded, “With about seventy stops on the way. God knows how these two would last without regular smoke breaks,”
Mike groaned, falling back against the bags they’d hastily stuffed in the back with them so he was almost completely horizontal.
“How are we not dead yet,” He asked, turning to look at Will. Will’s eyes followed the curls which fell into the other boy’s face, desperately wanting to tuck them back in place. He sighed as well, copying Mike’s position until they were about half a meter apart on the floor of the van. There was still another row of seats between them and the two in the front, and being this low down helped to drown out their constant chatter.
“I missed you,” Mike blurted, and it took Will a few tense seconds to process the words. He turned now, looking confusedly at Mike.
“You did?” He asked.
“Of course I did. You- you’re my best friend Will. It’s just not the same without you.” Mike replied honestly. Will took in the way his cheeks slowly filled with colour. He’s nervous.
“I missed you too,” Will responded, watching Mike’s face relax a little.
“I’m sorry I was a dick to you. You didn’t deserve that, especially not on your birthday.” He said, scowling at the memory of his own actions.
“You- you knew? That it was my birthday?”
“Yeah. I had a present for you and everything, and I was gonna take you to go get ice cream. Obviously nothing can beat Scoops Ahoy, but I thought it would at least be a little like old times. But then all that stuff happened with El and that bitch Angela and- and then Murray turned up? I guess I just forgot. I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay Mike-“ Will started, but he was cut off.
“No, no it’s not okay Will,” Mike said, exasperated. He reached for Will’s hand, linking their fingers.
“You deserve better. You always have. Ever since me and El… You know, I’ve been completely neglecting you. It’s not right.” Will went to say something, but Mike continued before he could.
“I guess- I guess I was just overwhelmed. I mean, with having someone interested in me. El was the only girl - pretty much the only person besides our party - who was actually willing to talk to me. What we have- it’s hard to explain. But it’s different with you. I don’t know how, it just is. You mean so much to me, and I don’t know what I’d do if we stopped being friends. Living so far away from you is hard enough as it is.”
Will was lost for words. Mikes confession was like a broken record in his mind. It’s different with you. You mean so much to me. And suddenly the boy opposite him consumed his senses. The sparks of warmth traveling up his arm where their fingers were intertwined; the way Mike’s eyes were staring intently into Will’s own, filled with warmth, vulnerability and something else he couldn’t quite place but which made Will’s insides flip and that spark of hope ignite into a roaring flame; the dark tangle of hair which was somehow unruly yet compliant simultaneously, the same curls his eyes had so often fixated on before. They were close. So close Will could count each freckle that danced across his best friend’s cheeks, could breath in that oh-so-familiar scent that seemed to surround the boy wherever he went (pine and something else, something uniquely his), could study the way Mike’s tongue instinctively darted out to wet his bottom lip.
And then it was happening. They were both leaning in, and Will was certain he had been wrong about Mike, that he liked him back after all, and he was just about to close his eyes when-
The van screeched to a halt.
Both boys jumped back as if burned, their hands immediately loosing contact, as Argyle’s head appeared over the back of the seats in front of them.
“Snack break!” He hollered, grinning dopily before stumbling out of the pizza delivery van, Jonathon at his heels. The doors slammed shut behind the pair, and Will sat up.
He drew his knees up to his chest, brushing his hands down them and pointedly refusing to look at Mike. How had he let it get this far? When the taller boy offered no words to break the silence, Will realised the burden would once again fall to him. Trying to pick the topic least likely to end with a similar situation - though nothing like that had ever taken place before, and Will knew that if he allowed himself to dwell on it for too long he’d never get over his crush - he brought up Mikes girlfriend.
“So,” He started. “How are you and El?”
He winced at the obvious implications. That was possibly the worst way he could’ve put it after what they just - almost - did.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean-“
“We’re uh-“ Mike cleared his throat, sitting up once more so his back was pressed to the cool metal on the left hand side of the van, legs outstretched. Will still hadn’t let go of his knees, sitting slightly further down and leaning against the right hand side.
“We’re good, I guess. I mean, nothing has changed,”
“Right,” Will nodded, looking down at his shoes. “I’m happy for you,”
He couldn’t force a smile. It showed.
“Will I- There’s something I want to talk to you about,”
Will nodded for him to go on. There was a pause, and the brunette could feel Mike’s eyes boring into him, as if waiting for Will to stare back. Not this time.
“Right. It’s… About me and El.”
This made Will look.
“But you said nothing’s changed,” Will confirmed, confused.
“Yeah, yeah,” Mike nodded. “It’s more that, well, I just realised it. I love El,” Will looked away, tears threatening to spill down his cheeks. Mike had to be doing it on purpose. He was just pretending to like him back, pretending to kiss him to see how far the other boy would go. He would never have followed through had Argyle not stopped.
“Uh huh,” He replied, coldly.
“But- but not any more than I love Lucas or Dustin. It’s more of a… Freindship love? Than romantic?”
“Oh.”
Oh.
Mike continued quickly, words coming out fast in an obvious bout of nerves.
“And there’s this- there’s this person. Another friend of mine. I really like them. Everything about them just makes me want to kiss them. And tell them how much I’ve wanted to, and for how long. But I’m scared. I’m scared about what they’ll think. Whether they’ll reject me. I’m scared about me and El… God knows she’s gone through enough shit to have to deal with a break up on top of it. So, yeah. That’s the truth,”
Will was shocked by this. He couldn’t remember the last time Mike had been this open with him, especially not about topics revolving around romance. He’d always seemed closed off about it, like he had something to hide.
“Wow. I mean, thanks for telling me. It’s always better to talk to someone.”
Mike nodded.
“I think…” Will considered his answer. “I think if you really like this person you should go for it. El has been through a lot, but it’s better to tell her now rather than lead her on. I know I would prefer it that way. And you said it yourself, it’s not like you understood how you felt about her when you got together, it’s a recent realisation. I’m sure she’d understand.”
He looked up. Mike was nodding.
“Yeah. Yeah, you’re right,” He smiled. “Although, it’s not really a recent thing… More like I’d been trying to suppress it, to ignore it and hope it would go away. I thought if I just completely obsessed over El I’d forget. But I couldn’t- I can’t.”
Will ignored the ache in his stomach at the fact that Mike had yet again fallen for someone other than him.
“Tell me about them,”
And Mike did.
Will watched the way the taller boy’s head fell back against the wall, his eyes lighting up and a smile gradually spreading across his face as he began to describe the person who’d managed to worm their way into his heart.
“Well, they’re a little shorter than me, but like the perfect height for hugs cause they fit right under my chin and it’s like we were made for each other,”
Will winced internally at this, recognising it was a perfect description of his own feelings when hugging Mike. He couldn’t shake the jealousy at whoever this mystery person turned out to be.
“And they have the softest looking brown hair. Like seriously, I wanna run my hands through it so badly-“ The red on Mike’s cheeks started to darken considerably, and he shook his head.
“Anyway. I can’t help but look at them. Mostly they don’t see, but when we do make eye contact it’s like the whole world melts away. Like it’s just us. Sometimes I almost convince myself he could like me back. Guess I’ll find out soon enough.”
Will’s world was spinning. Had he heard that right?
“He?” He asked.
Mike offered Will a nervous smile as he gently moved closer, almost laughing despite his anxiety at the puzzled look on Will’s face. He sat cross-legged inches away now, in front of Will and to the side of the other boy’s legs.
“Will,” He urged, begging him to understand.
Realisation. Mike watched - more scared about his best friend’s reaction than he had been about fighting the mind flayer - as Will’s confused expression was replaced by one of shock. Then disbelief. And, finally, a smile started to spread across the shorter boy’s face, and Mike had never been more relieved.
Will gave a breathless laugh, unbelievably happy for the first time in too long. He wouldn’t have been able to stop the smile taking over his features if he’d wanted to. Mike liked him back. This was real. They were real. Will took both Mike’s hands in his own, letting go of his knees and straightening his legs. Mike’s cheeks were dusted pink as he smiled.
“So… This person,” Will started, smiling at Mike. He ran his fingers tantalisingly slowly across first the flat of Mike’s palm, before eventually moving on to his knuckles. He relished in the way Mike studied the action, watched the subtle but definitely there shiver that ran through his body. If this had been any other situation, will would’ve convinced himself Mike was cold. Not this time.
“How long have you liked them?”
Mike looked at him, that glint in his eyes again - the one which Will couldn’t place, but made the whole world seem bearable. He supposed he probably could determine it now, what with this new confession. If he had more time to study it, that is.
“Since we were twelve, at least. That’s when I figured out my feelings. But, I guess before that as well. There’d always been something different about you- I mean- about the person. I was just too young to understand it.”
Will was grinning now, fingertips still travelling across Mike’s own.
“Do you-“ Will’s voice cracked as he tried his best to hold in a laugh. “Do you really like his hair that much?”
Mike laughed, and he watched the way Will’s face lit up with delight as he did as well. He couldn’t take it anymore.
“Shut up and kiss me already,”
Mike was leaning in, and so was Will, and suddenly they were kissing and Will had never felt more alive. Mike turned his head slightly to get a better angle, wanting to freeze this moment forever, realising how much better this felt than it had with anyone else. He pressed forwards, deepening the kiss and pushing Will gently against the side of the van. Will gasped into his mouth as exposed skin met cool metal, Mike smiling into the kiss. They broke away for a split second to catch a breath.
“I think,” Will spoke between urgent kisses. “He likes you back,”
Mike breathed a laugh, deciding to take the risk and do something he’d been longing to for longer than he’d like to admit. Will pulled away from the kiss as Mike’s hand slid experimentally from the base of Will’s neck to the sensitive skin just below his ear, before slipping past that and into the soft strands of Will’s hair. Will swallowed thickly, pupils blown wide and lips kissed red.
“Oh that’s just not fair,” He said, closing his eyes. Mike watched some of the tension leave Will’s body as he carded through his clean hair.
Mike adored his reaction, pressing quick kisses to the tip of Will’s nose, his jaw, just above his cheekbone, and finally the very corner of his mouth. He never ceased his hand’s movement through chestnut brown hair. Suddenly, Wills eyes were open once more and so full of burning adoration and desire that Mike almost froze. Almost. Will shamelessly dragged his eyes across Mike’s face, and the taller boy didn’t miss the way they lingered on his lips. Then Will was reaching up, and his arms were linked around Mike’s neck, and he was dragging him back into an open-mouthed kiss.
The action was abrupt and unexpected (not that Mike was in any way complaining) and he was forced to press his free hand against the sheet of steel to one side of Will’s head. The brunette was pulling him closer still, and Mike felt he might collapse.
“Will-“ He managed between feverish kisses.
“Will, I’m gonna-“
Will kissed him again.
“I’m gonna fall over if you keep pulling me down like this,” He finally spoke.
Will broke away from the kiss, and Mike immediately regretted his warning. That was, until, Will motioned for him to sit on his lap. Mike didn’t move, still fully processing the fact that Will even liked him back. It was all moving so fast, and neither wanted it any other way. They’d spent years pining for eachother, and now they’d finally come within reach.
“Mike,” Will spoke, voice coming out soft and reassuring. The underlying urgency was unmissable though. Mike obeyed.
No sooner had Mike adjusted his position so that one of his legs were bent on either side of Will’s thighs, basically kneeling on top of him, than Will was kissing him again. Mike instinctively tightened the hand which had stayed faithfully in Will’s hair, grabbing a fistful of it in the process. The action elicited a pleased moan from Will, causing the flushed skin of both their cheeks to darken even further - something Will hadn’t believed was even possible. This only encouraged Mike.
Making sure not to be too harsh, he pulled Will’s head back again, causing the boy at the receiving end to release another noise. Mike smiled, positioning himself above Will’s collarbone before gently connecting lips to pale skin. Will’s eyes closed. He was convinced he was in heaven, Mike trailing kisses along his collarbone and eventually starting on his neck. Will was unable to stop the string of moans and words of encouragement for mike to keep going, to never ever stop, from escaping his mouth.
The distant chatter of two voices nearing the van. Both boys ignored it. Coming closer still, now recognisably Jonathon and Argyle. More kisses. The sudden loud bang as Jonathan tripped and fell against the side of the truck, jolting the two inside back to Earth. They pulled away quickly, stunned. The front doors slid open, Jonathan and Argyle collapsing on the seats in a fit of laughter. Somehow, the stench of weed surrounding them was even stronger.
Jonathan looked back to check on the boys in the back. His mouth fell open. Mike in Will’s lap, his hand in Will’s hair. Two shocked expressions, like they’d been caught doing something they shouldn’t - which, to be fair, they had. Jonathan’s eyebrows furrowed and Argyle was watching now too as Mike scrambled away from Will, coming to his senses at last. Jonathan and Argyle shared a look, and for a few tense moments Will’s mind clouded with fear and panic. Another fit of giggles.
“Damn guys, couldn’t wait?” Jonathan asked, turning back around. Argyle started the van. Receiving no reply, he asked his next question in disbelief.
“Wait… That wasn’t- was that the first time you two kissed?”
Will’s cheeks were on fire.
“Uh- yeah?” Mike responded, shakily. His mind was reeling, still trying to think of anything other than Will, Will, Will.
“Woah,” Argyle chimed in, having already got the van back on the road. “But you guys were like, dating right?”
Will shook his head.
“Not before today,”
Mike stared at Will, a grin spreading across his face. Will realised the implications behind his words. The colour drained from his face. Were they dating now? God he wanted it. Wanted to be able to kiss mike wherever and whenever he wanted. To be able to take down the filter he had carefully constructed, no longer having use of it now Mike knew his secret.
Argyle observed this silent interaction through the mirror, realising what must’ve happened.
“That’s like, totally gnarly dude,” He commented. Jonathan nodded.
“I thought you two had been dating for like… Years. You seriously just figured it out?”
Will didn’t know how to reply. Neither did Mike. More laughter, the two in the front eventually returning to their usual chatter.
Mike let out a sigh of relief. Will shifted to sit next to him.
“So,” Mike gazed down at Will. “Are we uh- do you- would you like to be my-“
Will smiled, squeezing his hand.
“Yes,”