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Mike had done this a billion times.
It was supposed to be a cookie cutter campaign. Nothing big, just a little simple thing for them to play in between his better ones. He’d been planning a good story for awhile now, but it needed some tweaks before he could show it to the party. So he planned on debuting that during their next game night, and for now, this little placeholder was quite literally on the tabletop.
But nothing about anything that had gone on tonight felt normal for Mike. He was hyper aware of everything he was saying, he was hyper aware of what his friends were saying, he was hyper aware of Will. God, he could not stop looking at his best friend. For example, they were supposed to be finishing the campaign. Really soon, too! Once they went into the cave they’d meet the boss. But right now they were discussing what to do next, and Mike was realizing how long Will’s eyelashes are.
All of a sudden, Mike could not give two shits about what the others were discussing. Because at this moment in time, in his dimly-lit basement, playing an uneventful campaign, sitting in an uncomfortable folding chair, he was violently struck with the realization of how much he liked William Byers.
When Mike was in the third grade, before Dustin was even there, he had a crush on a girl in the other third grade class. Her name was Maggie, and she was pretty, and a brunette, and had sparkly eyes, and Mike wanted to hold her hand. He liked her for about four months, and then he just didn’t anymore. Realizing he liked Maggie was nothing like realizing he liked Will. Realizing he liked Maggie was embarrassing, but also kind of cool. He felt like he was in some new club. Realizing he liked Will was deafening. And terrifying. And also made so, so much sense.
“Mike? Are you okay?”
Mike’s head snaps in Dustin’s direction so fast he’s surprised it didn’t break.
“Uh… yeah! I just remembered that uh… my mom wants everybody gone by 8:30! Something about being up early for Holly. So uh, you guys should probably go!”
An expected uproar from the party. But Mike thinks if he spends another five minutes around Will, he might not be able to stop himself from professing his undying love for him right there at the table.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I know we were really close to the boss fight ‘n all, but uh…”
Sometimes even their beloved DM forgets how to think on his feet.
“You guys should really just go.”
The three of them grumble, but agree to pack things up. Sometimes it’s better not to question things with Mike. He can get touchy.
Not too touchy with Will though. So he tells Lucas and Dustin to head off without him, saying he’s gonna stay behind for a minute to make sure Mike’s alright. Just as he lays down on the basement couch and heaves a huge sigh, the very object of his newfound affections walks back in the door.
He bolts up. “Will! Did you forget something?”
Will sets his backpack down and sits next to Mike. Who is acutely aware that if he moved a fraction of an inch their knees would touch.
“No, I just… wanted to make sure you’re okay. Usually none of us leave until your mom’s literally yelling at us to finish. It’s just unlike you to end really abruptly… You know you can tell me anything right?”
Mike nods. A lot.
“Of course I do! I just… Uh…”
He loses his train of thought, because looking at Will was a bad idea. Looking at the face of his best friend and newfound very intense crush was a very bad idea. Especially when the glance at his lips lasted much longer than intended. And he was unable to continue talking because he’s just so pretty. And he was unable to continue thinking because he was kissing Will. Will, his best friend who he’s maybe kind of definitely in love with, who’s hair is really soft, seriously, he must’ve showered today, if he didn’t that’s just unfair, who could wake up this perfect? Well, Mike thinks Will definitely could. Will who he is kissing. Oh my fucking god I am kissing Will.
Mike thinks he has never moved so quickly.
“Oh my god, I’m so sorry, I just- I just wasn’t feeling well! Yeah! Which is why I stopped the campaign-”
“Mike?”
“-and I’m probably like, delirious right now or something, which is why I did that and all, not because I like you like that-”
“Mike??”
“-because that would be crazy, of course not, we’re best friends, and I-”
“Mike!”
Will grabs him by the shoulders. Mike shuts his mouth and stares directly at Will. And definitely doesn’t glance at his best friend’s lips.
“Mike. Why’d you have us finish early?” He looks concerned. And flushed. And, Mike thinks, very cute as he pleads, “ Please tell me.”
Mike feels defeated. He’s pretty bad at saying no to Will on the regular, and this feels like challenge mode with no quarters left to reboot if he messes up.
“It’s gonna make you feel weird,” he says, and Will makes a face, but shakes his head.
“Tell me. I don’t care if I feel weird! It’s obviously messing with you.”
Mike feels like he deserved some more time to prepare for this. Maybe a billion years? That still doesn’t feel like enough time to get ready for this. How do you tell the greatest guy in the world, who is also your best friend, that you’re head over heels?
“Mike, come on, I-”
And Will looks so worried. Eyebrows pinched together and thin frown on, it’s so easy to see the resemblance between him and Joyce. And Mike would do anything to make Will feel alright. So he starts talking.
“I realized I like you!”
The silence in the basement is heavy. Luckily, Mike’s gotten very good at digging himself holes, so he uses his shovel to lighten things up.
“It’s just, we were all playing DnD, and I just looked at you, and I expected to be normal, but then it just hit me so hard that like, you’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me and I realized I think I might be in love with you which was just kind of a lot to take in right there and I just couldn’t stop thinking about you and I was worried I’d just lean right across my trifold and kiss you right on the mouth if I didn’t make you leave right then so I was like okay! Everybody’s leaving so I don’t ruin my relationship with my best friend! But then you’re just so perfect and nice and the greatest you had to make sure I was okay and I didn’t even mean to but I kissed you, which obviously you didn’t want because who would want to kiss me? I smell like cheetos and I’m mean and-”
Will kisses him this time. Now that he’s not lost in his own little world, and is paying attention, Mike thinks this might be the best experience of his life. He always thought kissing in the TV shows his mom watches were gross, but he kind of gets it now. Kissing Will feels like your stomach dropping on a roller coaster and getting a new high score on Galaga and wearing a sweater out of the dryer all at once. Mike cannot believe he’s never going to get to do this again. When Will pulls away, he wants to cry.
“Mike,” Will starts, “I’ve liked you for a while now. Like maybe almost a year.”
Mike opens his mouth, but before he can say anything, Will keeps going.
“I know I should’ve told you and all, I just, I didn’t want anything between us to get weird, and I didn’t even think you liked guys, especially not me, so I just… kept it a secret.”
Mike’s house is so quiet. For once, he wishes Nancy was stomping around the kitchen just so have something to break the silence.
“Will, do you… Would you date me? Like, like boyfriend/girlfriend- well I guess boyfriend/boyfriend date? Like maybe we could like, kiss more than just tonight… and hold hands at the arcade when Lucas and Dustin are up to bat! And, like-”
“You want to date me?”
Mike blinks at him. Will looks genuinely confused, which makes Mike genuinely confused.
“Wasn’t that obvious? I just talked for like five minutes…?” Mike rolls his eyes and huffs. “Will, you’re literally like, the greatest guy I’ve ever met. And you just said you liked me back for some reason, so… Yeah. I mean. If you want to?”
Now that they both know they like each other, this is kind of embarrassing for some reason. Feelings are so stupid.
“If you want us to forget I asked, that’s okay, really! I just really like you, Will.”
Will is quiet for too long, deemed by Mike. Once he leaves, he is definitely crying. He looks down. His eyes already sting a little.
But, eventually: “... We could have dates at my house?”
Mike’s head snaps up. “What?”
The longer Will talks, the more he unfurls. Mike hadn’t realized how scrunched he was sitting.
“Well, Mom and Jonathan already know, so like, if we wanted to have movie dates or something, were we’d uh, kiss, it’d be okay if they walked in on us y’know?”
For once in his life, Mike is speechless.
“If it’s not clear, I think boyfriend/boyfriend dating would be nice-”
“You want to kiss me? Again? Like in the future?”
Will looks up at him. Mike is very red.
“I mean, yeah! The future is good…”
Mike is not the only one who is very red. Except he would say Will is pink. He only gets red when he’s mad.
“Will, would you want to kiss me like… right now?”
He nods, a little jerky, and Mike scoots closer to him.
“Is… is it okay if I put my hands on your face?” Which Mike feels stupid asking, the characters in his mom’s TV shows never ask to kiss, let alone where to put their hands, but it feels wrong if he doesn’t ask. What if Will doesn’t like it but doesn’t know how to tell him not to do it?
Luckily for Mike, Will is very good at making him feel normal.
“Yeah, that’s uh… can I put my hands here?” He lifts his arms up and puts his hands on the back of Mike’s head, with his thumbs in front of his ears. He’s barely touching him, like the time he helped Mike do the dishes, and had to hold one of his parents’ fancy wine glasses. He was so worried he’d drop it and it’d break.
Mike nods and moves his hands up to cup Will’s face in his palms, just as light as Will’s doing to him. He didn’t realize they were whispering. Suddenly, everything about this moment feels so fragile. He locks eyes with Will, who gives him a little smile, and without really thinking about it, Mike pulls Will towards him. They're kissing again, and Mike supposes they’re dating now. They’re dating and Will is already thinking of actual dates they can have, and they’re kissing . And it’s really nice. Mike’s not sure if he’s still gonna cry after Will leaves or not, but he knows that if he does, it will be for very good reasons. "I’m boyfriends with my best friend William Byers, the best guy I know" reasons. God, Mike could do this forever. He hopes he gets to.
After a bit, Mike shifts his hands to be around Will’s neck, and Mike pulls away. After a moment for them both to breathe a little, Will moves his hands down to Mike’s waist.
“So uh… Do you wanna ask my mom to spend the night?”
“Do I get to use the good pillow?”
“... Fine. Just this time though!”
Just like that, Will’s arms are gone as he fist-pumps and picks up his backpack, standing by the stairs.
“Come on! We gotta catch her before she goes to bed.” Will runs up the stairs.
Mike waits for a minute. Will’s face was so pink. And very warm in his hands. He’s not sure it’s possible for tonight to have gone any better than this. He chases his boyfriend up the stairs.