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mike and will sit next to each other on hopper’s porch, watching the sun rise and wishing for more time - for sign that things would be okay. hawkins had begun to fall, max was still in the hospital, everyone was in disarray.
instead of their normal sunrises, the clouds were dark and red thunder clapped above them. the sky was an odd shade of gray, the familiar blue skies had vanished a while ago. they didn’t know what would happen, nobody did. it was all up to fate, and will wonders what they did in their past lives to possibly deserve anything like this. will felt like maybe he deserved what happened to him as a child, but he was so young. he feels horrible for dragging everyone into his mess.
“mike?” will looked over at mike, his eyes still lost in the dark clouds and red thunder that covered hawkins. without looking away, “yeah?”
“do you remember the painting i gave you in the van? right before we picked up el?”
“yeah, thank you, by the way. i feel like i didn’t show how much i liked it. i’ve been meaning to thank el too but i haven’t had the time.”
“oh. about that..” will paused, his breath hitched and his heart started pounding so hard maybe mike could hear it. “i lied to you. i’m sorry- el didn’t commission it. i just felt like maybe you’d feel better if you heard what you needed to hear if it was coming from your girlfriend. from el.”
this took mike back. he’d now been looking at will, confusion and betrayal painted over his face. but he couldn’t be mad, he’d never be mad at will. he was more confused on why he would lie, he just told you, mike. that doesn’t matter. why would will ever feel like he couldn’t talk to him? what did mike do to make him feel the need to lie to his best friend?
“i know you’re probably mad, and i’m gonna make this worse but the world’s about to end and i have nothing left to lose.” will stared blankly at mike, gathering all of the courage left in his body. he’s your friend. he’ll understand.
“i’m..” will’s breathing became sporadic and quick.
“i’m gay. i don’t like girls.”
oh.
“oh.”
”yeah..’oh’.”
mike processed this information. he stayed silent for a little too long, he saw will’s eyes begin to water, will turned forward quickly and hunched slightly, hugging himself to try and stop crying. to mike, everything made sense now. the summer of 1985, he remembers walking past a lingerie store in starcourt mall. he and lucas stared in shock, but mike caught will’s face from the corner of his eye. it was different, it was frightened. he looked almost horrified, his face pale and his eyes wide. he figured he was just embarrassed, but it still stayed on his mind. he remembers their fight in the rain, after mike had been extremely disrespectful to will during his campaign. “it’s not my fault you don’t like girls!”
oh my god.
“it’s not my fault you don’t like girls.”
“mike, what?”
mike buried himself in his hands, his heart sunk and his stomach had twisted. he exhaled and frantically looked at will, who looked disheveled and exhausted. he was so young, but he looked so old.
“i’m so sorry. fuck- i’m..”
“what are you talking about?” will’s voice was tired and hoarse, like he’d been crying silently and mike hadn’t noticed it. for the second time.
“when i said, ‘it’s not my fault you don’t like girls’, i didn’t really mean it like- like that.”
”i know you didn’t.” will played with the bottom of his shirt in his lap. “i only got so upset because you looked through me like i was..glass. i was afraid that if you looked any closer- you’d see the truth. i was scared that i was so readable, i mean if you said that but didn’t even mean it, what did it mean when other people did?”
”what truth?”
mike moved his hand closer to will’s as a sign of comfort. will began to fidget, his knee bounced slightly. remember, nothing left to lose.
”that i liked you.”
mike’s reaction didn’t phase, it’s like he hadn’t even heard him properly. seconds went by of them staring at each other, waiting for someone else to say something to save them from silence. blood rushed to mike’s face and his stomach twisted again. he couldn’t fight it, mike smiled and put his hand closer to will’s. he still looked horrified, but mike held his smile.
”you liked me?”
“you didn’t realize? i thought i was being totally obvious.”
will’s words hit mike again, this time like an arrow to the heart. liked. he liked you - past tense. not anymore.
“do you still like me?”
“what?”
mike repeated the question. “do you still like me?”
“i mean- maybe.”
“maybe?” mike’s brows furrowed, then he softened his expression when he locked eyes with will again. will seemed to be looking anywhere but his eyes, his lips, his hair, his nose, his eye brows, even right behind him. that was the only answer mike needed.
he leaned in and pressed his lips on will’s. they seemed to fit perfectly together, like two puzzle pieces when you finish a puzzle; or like a lock and key. mike pulled away just as fast, now he was the horrified one. will was stunned, visibly blushing while his tear-stained cheeks began to dry.
“you-“
“i’m so sorry, oh my god. i should have asked- that wasn’t-“ will pulled mike in by his shirt and kissed him again. this time, it was deeper and more vibrant, like their kiss would be the last thing they’d ever do. honestly, it could’ve been the last thing they’d ever do. the sky illuminated the both of them, the sun shining through the clouds and catching their faces. mike’s hands moved from the deck of the porch to will’s arms, trailing up until he reached his neck. will moved himself closer to mike until their knees were touching, and placed his hands on mike’s scalp. he gently ran his hand through his hair, and mike made a small noise. he felt will smile against his lips as he continued to play with his hair while mike rested his hands on will’s face.
they pulled away, blushing and heavy breathing, both shocked and staring at each other dead in the eyes.
“wait, you-“ will started, confusion growing on his face.
“i like you, will. i’ve liked you for years, and before you say anything about el- i liked her. i really like her, but it’s not the same anymore. i think in the back of my mind i always wanted..you.”
will’s faced turned completely red. his heart fluttered and his stomach was full of butterflies.
“you’re joking.”
“are you serious, will?” mike laughed, and pulled will in to lay a small kiss next to his lips.
will just smiled and engulfed mike into a hug, muttering “i love you” into his shoulder.
“i love you, so much.”