Chapter Text
“You little bitch! You little bitch !” Mike mashed his fingers on the controller, desperate as Will cackled maniacally. “Oh, you sadistic bastard , I’m gonna fu - ”
“MICHEAL!” Karen Wheeler’s voice floated down from the stairwell, sharp and irritated. Mike snapped his head around, eyes widening as he realized just how loud he was being.
“Mom! It’s just a game, I don’t actually mean any of it, I promise-” Beep beep! The TV lit up- in his lapse of attention, Will KO’d Mike’s game character. “Oh, FUCK.”
“Micheal Wheeler, if you don’t watch your mouth, I will come down there and unplug that thing.” The door to the basement closed, and Will watched, trying not to laugh, as Mike turned back to the TV, a sour look on his face.
Will grinned, smug. It wasn’t often he was able to beat Mike- he’d have to hold this victory over his head for the coming weeks. “So. What were you saying earlier, about being better than all of Hawkins at this game?” Mike scowled, clearly biting back a scathing response.
“We BOTH know that if my mom hadn’t come down here, then I would’ve recovered, and kicked your sorry ass all the way back to Lenora.”
Will quirked up his eyebrow, doing his best not to smile like an idiot. “I don’t know, the television screen seems to have a different opinion.” He gestured towards the TV with his controller, where colorful, blocky letters announced Will’s indisputable victory.
“Oh, fuck off,” Mike whispered under his breath, much to Will’s amusement. He loved it when Mike got defensively competitive. “Okay, so another round then. I’ll show you, it’ll be an easy win.”
“Oh, we’ll see about that.”
~~~
Fifteen minutes and three rounds later, Mike would, unfortunately, be proven right.
“I told you, Byers! I fucking told you! Easiest fight of my life , I’m telling you,” Mike crowed, holding up his arms in a victory pose. Will set down his controller, bowing his head towards Mike.
“I concede. For today only , Micheal Wheeler, you may be considered the winner of Nintendo.”
“Today only?! Fuck that, I’m better than you every day!” Mike reached forward, tilting Will’s head closer to him and giving him a quick kiss on the forehead before pulling back and continuing his cheering.
Holy shit. Mike just. Kissed him. On the forehead.
Will was sure his face had to be beet-red as he struggled to process what the hell just happened.
Mike kissed him. On the forehead. On purpose? Because he won ?
His stomach twisted, simultaneously thrilled and uncertain, the wings of a million butterflies dancing around in his gut as he stared slack-jawed at Mike.
“Well, Byers? How did those words from earlier taste?” Mike was practically beaming with smug confidence, all flushed cheeks and bright eyes, and god did it suit him.
Words, Will, words would be good right about now.
“I- yeah. Wo.. words eaten,” Will said lamely. “Uh. Do- D’you want to play another round?”
~~~
Mike laid awake, staring at the ceiling. It was probably 2am at this point, but he had no desire to go to sleep.
Jesus christ, he kissed his best friend on the forehead.
It was completely spur of the moment; impulsive at best, stupid at worst. Will seemed so awkward afterwards, edging on blatant discomfort. Should he apologize? It wasn’t a kiss based on feelings- well, the feelings were there , but that wasn’t why he kissed him, it wasn’t like he was trying to tell Will that hey, I know we’re best friends and you’re straight but I’ve been in love with you for the past two years . That.. seemed like a lot to dump on a guy during a game of Nintendo.
Mike groaned, smashing his face into a pillow.
He’d bring it up with Will tomorrow, apologize if he made him uncomfortable, and maybe, maybe they could move past it and everything could be normal.
But that was tomorrow Mike’s problem. Tonight, all Mike cared about was replaying the moment over and over again, guiltily relishing in what he would find out the next day was one of the best decisions he’d ever made.