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Will knew he wasn't like everyone else. Even before everything, before he was Zombie Boy, he'd still receive sideways glances and snickers in the hallways. At least, then, he never really understood what they meant. He just knew they hated him, and that was enough.
When they were little- really little- Mike and Will somehow made a habit of holding hands. It didn't mean anything, then. Will often just needed something to hold onto, keep him from drifting away, and Mike was always happy to be his anchor. But then the boys at school started saying nasty things, and Will's anchor rusted away.
Will didn't really know what love was until he was 14 years old, watching from behind as Mike and El found each other, and left him behind. Up until then, Mike was just Will's best friend. Maybe a bit closer than Lucas or Dustin, but a friend nonetheless. So why was Will fine when Dustin boasted about Suzie? Why did Will's heart not shatter when Lucas grinned at Max like she was the only thing worth waking up for? He didn't know. And when El and Mike broke up, Will didn't know why he felt so... relieved. He should be sad for his friends, right? Neither his sister nor best friend seemed particularly happy, so why was Will? It didn't make any sense.
Will figured it must be something wrong with him. Being on the flip side of the world for too long messed him up somehow, and ruined his chance of happiness even more. But no, he realized. It wasn't the Upside Down, or the Mind Flayer, or even El that made him like this. He always had been, and always would be, in love with Mike Wheeler. It wasn't a particularly comforting revelation to have. Even once Will accepted that they'd never be together, not like that, he wasn't even sure they'd get to be together not like that. Mike and Will, they didn't exactly live the safest lives. Who was to say Will wouldn't get sucked back into the Upside Down again, for good this time? Who was to say Mike wouldn't get taken this time, by some twisted form of fate?
Will always had nightmares. It wasn't a secret. Usually, they were about the time he spent in the Upside Down, running from the Demogorgon, or the Mind Flayer's possession. But recently, they started to shift. Will wouldn't relive his own memories, but would watch Mike fall victim to them instead. And it was always Mike. Mike running from the Demogorgon. Mike thrashing and screaming in pain as the Mind Flayer infected his mind. Mike in hospital beds, Mike in gurneys. Mike, Mike, Mike. And Will told no one, because what would he say? How would he tell his other friends, his family, that he didn't fear for them? That, out of everyone, his sleeping brain seemed to only care about selfless, stupid, straight Mike.
It happened to be one such night when Mike stayed over, sharing Will's bed and late-night secrets, almost like they were twelve again. This time, Will's brain supplied him with the image of Mike being torn apart by Demodogs, while Will could do nothing but stand back and watch. He was screaming Mike's name, trying to reach out to him, when he was slowly dredged back to consciousness.
"Will... Will!"
Will reached out, grabbing an arm that he vaguely recognized as Mike's. But this time, it was actual real-life Mike, not from a dream, leaning over Will and shaking his shoulder, a desperate expression on his face.
Watching Will's eyes crack open, Mike exhaled a sigh of relief, the tension draining from his body, as he pulled Will into a hug.
"It's okay- I'm right here. I'm not going anywhere."
Will, still half-asleep, could only manage a whispered "Huh?", his face buried in Mike's shoulder.
Mike pulled away, suddenly looking a bit embarrassed, a light pink dusting his ears.
"You were... you kept calling my name," he confessed, avoiding Will's eyes. "I figured it was another nightmare."
"Oh," Will breathed, averting his gaze as well. He really didn't want to admit to Mike that he had nightmares about losing him every night, no way. He knew Mike would understand, Mike always understood, but Will wasn't sure he could pull it off without accidentally revealing what he actually felt. Maybe, if he was lucky, Mike would just forget about the whole thing, and they could both go back to sleep.
"Do you... want to talk about it?" Mike asked hesitantly, his voice so full of care that it almost brought tears to Will's eyes. It would be so easy now, to just say no and dodge the subject, because Will knew Mike would let him. If Will asked Mike to forget, he would in a heartbeat, or at least try his best. Maybe that's why Will hesitated. As much as he wanted to avoid talking to Mike, it would feel like lying to say he was fine, to pretend that nothing was going on. So, Will kept talking.
"I just... keep having nightmares. I mean, I always did, but why I was calling your name... I keep having nightmares about you. In the Upside Down. I keep having to see you get taken or hurt or killed, and there's never anything I can do about it. I just have to sit back and watch, and it's horrible. And I know it's stupid because we're safe, and everything's fine now-"
"It's not stupid."
"-but no matter what I do, they won't stop. And it just sucks . Because I don't know what to do. It wasn't so bad before when they were just about me, but I can't keep waking up thinking you're dead, and it's all my fault-"
Will ran out of breath, his voice cracking on the last syllable as he broke down into sobs, and Mike pulled him in for another hug. They sat there for a minute in silence, just holding each other while Will's tears slowed down. Eventually, the hug broke, Will pulling away this time as he wiped at his eyes.
"Sorry," he whispered, looking away.
"Hey, don't be sorry," said Mike, turning his body to be in Will's field of vision. "I get nightmares too. It's totally normal, considering all the shit we've been through. I just..." he trailed off, like he was scared of upsetting Will, and didn't want to go too far. After a beat, he looked back up at Will, trying again.
"What did you mean, they weren't as bad when they were about you?"
Will sighed, shifting his body on the mattress. "It's not like that. I just-" He needed to choose his words wisely. He needed to be careful, but it was like something was inside of Will, threatening to burst if he didn't tell at least the somewhat truth. Friends don't lie, after all.
"I just love you so much, Mike, that's all. I don't want to lose you."
In Will's head, that had sounded fine. Friends love each other, after all, especially best friends. So it wouldn't be weird for Will to say as much, right? He loved all his friends, so there was no way Mike could notice something was up. It was a simple enough sentence. Only, once Will said it, once his words actually filled the air, it sounded very different than it had before. There was too much hesitation, maybe, too much emphasis on the word love. But either way, it sounded like a confession, even to Will's ears.
Will quickly looked away, knowing his face was turning red. Maybe Mike wouldn't notice. He's always oblivious, after all. Maybe he'd just think Will's being a best friend, and gloss over the whole thing. Maybe.
"I love you too."
"What?" Will whipped his head around because, damn it all, Mike's words sounded like a confession too. Which was impossible. Because Mike didn't love him. Mike didn't care about him, not in that way. Will just must have misheard. But when he looked into Mike's eyes, shining with fresh tears, Will knew he heard right.
"What do you mean?" He had to be sure. Maybe Mike didn't realize what he was saying. Maybe he was just a really talented actor, and this had been a joke all along. Even though Will knew Mike would never do something like that.
After seeing Will's face, the same tears reflected in his eyes, Mike straightened, as if taken over by a new burst of confidence. "Exactly what I said. I love you, Will Byers, and I'm never letting you forget it ever again."
It was just then that Will realized how close they were. In fact, if either one of them leaned in, just a hair, they would be-
Oh.
Will wasn't sure which of them it was exactly, maybe even both, but someone did lean in. And they were kissing.
If you had told young, little Will (hell, maybe even Will a few hours ago) that he'd get to kiss Mike Wheeler, and feel his lips on his own, his soft wavy hair tangled in his fingers, he wouldn't have believed you. But here he was. Even right-then Will hardly believed it. Mike was just so nice, so gentle, cupping Will's face with both hands even as hot tears rolled down his cheeks.
Will didn't know when he started crying again, or maybe he never stopped. But Mike quickly noticed and pulled away, his face twisting in concern.
"Are you okay? Did I... Is this okay?" he whispered, searching Will's face, for what exactly, Will didn't know. It seemed he didn't know a lot of things. But there was one thing, at least, he knew he'd always be certain of.
"No, no... I mean yes, this is okay!" laughed Will, pressing his forehead against Mike's. "I just never thought you'd actually like me back, is all."
"Of course I do," said Mike, with as much passion as always. "I think... I always have."
"Really?" asked Will, glancing back up into Mike's eyes, as his own filled up with tears. Happy ones, this time.
"Really," whispered Mike, before his gaze flicked down to Will's lips. "Can I kiss you?"
"Yes, always yes," breathed Will, a small smile painting his face before he and Mike both leaned in, always in sync, always together.
Will never had another nightmare again.