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"Will," Mike said, out of nowhere. "If you could only say three words, what would they be?"
The boys were 10 years old, having a sleepover in Mike's bedroom. Will was on the top bunk, and Mike was on the bottom. However, they both secretly wished they were sharing Mike's bed right now.
Earlier, that day, Lucas and Dustin were over for a campaign. They had been working on it, for weeks, and it finally concluded with Will slaying Orcus. He rolled a 19, and took him out with his sword. Mike couldn't believe it. Lucas and Dustin were already out of rolls and Will only had two left. So, he chose the D20, and said screw it. Well, not actually. He's too polite to say things like that.
"I don't know," Will answered, honestly.
Mike sat up, and turned his head to Will. Will shot up and peered down at Mike.
"Those are the words you would choose?" Mike was curious. He thought those were a waste.
Will just shrugged. "No, those aren't the words. But, I have no clue what I would say."
Sometimes when it was just the two of them, after Lucas and Dustin went home, Mike would go on tangents about life or ask Will various philosophical questions. In earnest, he just wanted to hear Will's voice. But, the brunette was quiet. Normally, he only spoke when spoken to. So, if he wanted to get him to talk, he had to ask questions. Mike loved the sound of Will's voice. It has always been a sense of comfort for Mike. Especially because Will would come to school with bruises, a lot of the time, from his Dad. Mike hated how Lonnie treated Will. Whenever Will had a bad night, he wouldn't speak at all the next day. That's when Mike started the three words thing. It was an in between. Mike never wanted to stop talking, and Will didn't want to talk at all. So, to compromise, Mike wouldn't make him say much. But, it was enough to know that his best friend was okay.
"I hate Lonnie," Will breathed. "I guess those are my words."
Mike nodded. Will never says negative things about anyone. But, his parents got into such a huge fight over a rainbow drawing that Will had done. So, Joyce asked Karen if Will and Jonathan could stay over at the Wheelers.
"I hate him, too," Mike forced a smile. "You're too sweet to feel so bad, all the time."
And it was true. Will was the sweetest little cinnamon roll, on the planet. It baffled Mike that anyone would want to hurt someone as pure and beautiful as Will. Though Mike wouldn't admit it in front of Will, he probably cried himself to sleep over Lonnie more than Will did. He never really understood why, but he always felt so protective over his best friend.
"Mike," Will got his attention, again.
"Yeah, Cleric?"
"Why, is it okay for Lonnie to hit me?"
Mike climbed up to the top bunk, and flung his arms around Will. "It's not. He's insane."
"He says it's wrong for you to cuddle me," Will told him.
"He doesn't know what he's talking about," Mike breathed.
"Do you think we'll be 70 and still cuddling, Paladin?" Will squeaked.
"I really do," Mike answered, honestly. "And, I wouldn't have it any other way."
--
The boys were now 11, and watching Lonnie pull out of the Byers family driveway. Joyce had finally filed for divorce and kicked him out after trying to beat Will with a bat. The brunette was safe in Mike's embrace. Neither one of them wanted to let go.
When Mike arrived at the house two hours prior, the boys were in Will's room reading X-Men comics. Apparently, the brunette left his sketchbook open in the kitchen. Of course, it was Lonnie who found it and saw a drawing of his son holding hands with the Wheeler boy. So, his first instinct was to grab a bat from the shed and knock the homosexuality right out of his son. Joyce was at work, when it happened. Jonathan had to pry the bat out of Lonnie's hands.
It was clear from the day Will met Mike that he wasn't straight. He would tell Joyce all the time how beautiful he thought his best friend was, and how he loved cuddling with him and holding his hand. Joyce never cared. Will was her son. Who he loved didn't make a bit of a difference. Jonathan knew, too. It was evident that Will never took interest in girls, and only ever talked about Mike. Even when he recounted his days with the party to his older brother, the conversation would somehow inevitably end up on Mike.
"Three words?" Will asked Mike.
"Three words?" Mike was confused. "Shouldn't I be asking you that? You're the one who almost died."
Will shrugged. "I'm asking you."
Mike took a minute to think about it. He was relieved that Will was okay. He was glad Lonnie was sent packing. He felt warm with Will in his arms.
But, Mike settled on, "Glad he's gone."
"Me, too," Will smiled.
--
The day after Will went missing, Mike was sobbing into the binders of his artwork. He always kept Will's drawings. Even the one's Will swears are terrible and doesn't want anyone seeing. It was painful to go to school, and not see Will sitting next to him.
Mike stumbled his way out of the basement, and hopped on his bike. He didn't know where he wanted to go, but he just wanted his best friend. It was dark and mucky out. But, Mike didn't care. He just needed to feel safe.
He ended up at Castle Byers. It was Will's safe place that he built with Jonathan, when Lonnie was being a prick. Mike dropped his bike out front, and pushed aside the curtain.
It smelled like Will. He could almost feel him. Mike sat down on the mattress and started weeping. He never wanted to know what life would be like without his partner in crime, but he was experiencing it.
"If I could say three words right now," Mike breathed. "They would be, 'I miss you'."
--
"Hey, hey," Will tried to console Mike. "Calm down."
Mike was on the floor in El's room, hyperventilating. The cops had just taken her away, yesterday. Today, the government showed up and said we might not be seeing her ever again. Minutes before the police showed up, the two of them had their biggest fight yet. Will wrapped him in his arms, and pulled him close.
"Shh," Will petted Mike's hair. "It's gonna be okay."
Mike shook his head. "It's not."
"Of course, it is," Will soothed. "We're gonna get her back."
"I feel so guilty," Mike wailed.
"It's not your fault," Will reminded his best friend. "It's no one's fault."
"No, not about losing her," Mike choked out. "Before she was arrested, we fought. And, it was big... and I just couldn't lie to her."
"Then, what is it?" Will wanted to know. "What couldn't you lie to her, about?"
Mike shook his head. "Can't say it."
Will was not going to let Mike sob on his sister's floor, for nothing. "You can tell me. I know she's my sister. But even if you upset her, I'm not gonna hate you."
"It's so bad," Mike admitted. "I feel so bad, and now we might not ever see her again."
"You didn't cheat on her, did you?" Will asked. "I might actually hate you, if you did."
"Of course, not," Mike answered. "But, it's pretty bad."
"Okay," Will turned Mike's chin to face him. "Three words. That's it. I won't push. If you could only use three words, what would they be?"
Mike paused, for a minute. He knew he had to stop lying. He was hurting El, and he was hurting himself. He waited a few more seconds before saying, "Don't love El."
Will was shocked, but he didn't pry. He just continued to hold Mike.
--
The back of Will's neck started to crawl. Just when he thought things were going to be calm for a single day, the Upside Down puts it giant foot down. Hopper just came back. It was supposed to be a somewhat good day, despite there being four gates to hell in Hawkins and Max being in a coma.
Will started to tremble. The rest of the group turned to him. Looking in his direction, they noticed the sky. It was red and shaped like the Mind Flayer. The group walked together towards the shadows.
Hopper took Joyce's hand. Jonathan took Nancy's hand. Will and Mike's breathing was in sync. El walked to the front of the group, with a determined look on her face. It was almost as if Vecna was toying with her; giving her a visual of what he was planning to do, to scare her. It didn't work. She was now more determined than ever to take him down. To save Max.
Mike turned to Will, who was speechless. "Three words?"
Will sucked in his breath, and turned to Mike, "He's not done."
--
Will was laying in Mike's arms in the attic of the Creel House. El had just defeated Vecna, but it didn't come without great cost. Steve and Murray had both died, and Will was bleeding out in Mike's arms. Vecna wasn't able to kill Will, but he dismantled him pretty well.
"Mike," Will choked out.
"I'm right here," Mike forced a smile. "I've got you. It's gonna be fine. We're gonna fix this. You aren't gonna die like this."
Nancy was trying to get ahold of the ambulance. Letting Mike and Will go in alone, was starting to seem like the biggest mistake.
"Three words?" Will asked.
"Really?" Mike giggled tears. "You're oozing like a Gusher, and you want to know what I'm thinking?"
Will simply nodded, ignoring Mike's insensitive but insanely creative joke.
"You first," Mike said, pulling Will a little bit closer.
"I'm really scared," Will managed. "Don't wanna die."
"I don't want you to die, either," Mike cried. "There's so much we need to talk about. I can't even put it in to words, right now."
Will gave Mike a puzzled look. "You only get three. So, make 'em good."
Mike thought about it for a minute. He didn't need to think about how he felt. He knew how he felt. He just wanted to make sure his words came out right. "I need you."
Will rested a hand on Mike's cheek, neither of them caring that Will was smearing blood all over his best friend. His eyes were starting to close.
"Three more words, Will?" Mike sobbed. "Please, hang on."
Will looked at Mike with the most sincere eyes. "Please, kiss me."
Mike was so unbelievably happy, in that moment, he could cry. He leaned down and captured Will's lips, savoring every moment. He tasted like blood, but it was the sweetest taste he's ever experienced. They still had so much to talk about. But, at least they wouldn't have to dance around their feelings anymore.
Mike pulled off of Will, and caught him smiling.
"Gonna close my eyes, for a minute," Will breathed. "I'm not going anywhere."
Mike kissed Will's head. "I'll hold you."
--
"Will, baby," Mike hollered from the kitchen of their apartment. "You're gonna be late for work."
Will scurried into the kitchen and kissed Mike, passionately. "Morning."
"You're gonna be late for your first day," Mike pointed out. "And if you're late, I'm late."
Will had his first day teaching art at the high school in Chicago. Mike was the 10th grade English teacher. They had always wanted to work together, and now they were. Sure it wasn't their dream job making comic books, but they were only 25. They had so much time to do that.
"I wanted to look good and make breakfast," Will pointed out. "And besides, you like to get to work an hour before school even starts. We'll be fine."
"Just wait until you have a big art project and you need to show up early to set up," Mike crossed his arms.
Will rolled his eyes, and poured his coffee.
"Penny for your thoughts?" Mike looked at his husband.
"Would three words tickle your fancy?" Will asked, putting the rest of the coffee back.
"It'll do," Mike teased, wrapping his arms around Will from behind.
"I'm so happy," Will beamed.
Mike kissed his cheek, softly. "I'm glad."
--
Will cuddled into Mike's chest. The two were laying outside in the field, in Hawkins, watching the stars. They had been married for 45 years, now, but they still were very affectionate and went on many dates. Mike promised to make it up to Will for not talking to him for two years during their teenage years. He was a man of his word, and made sure Will always felt special.
"I think that one's called the big dipper," Mike pointed up.
Will giggled. "They look like dots to me."
"Beautiful dots," Mike corrected.
"Sure," Will rolled his eyes. "The moon is full and pretty, tonight, though."
Mike hummed. "Sometimes, I think you hung the moon."
"What's that supposed to mean?" He laughed.
"It means I'm crazy about you," Mike kissed his head.
They laid there in silence, for a while. Just soaking each other in. Mike thought Will looked gorgeous in the moonlight. I mean, Mike always thought Will was gorgeous. But, this lighting was almost ethereal.
Will rolled completely onto Mike, and snuggled deeper.
"I think we're getting too old, for this," Mike shifted his weight, to get more comfortable.
"We're never too old to cuddle, baby," Will squeezed Mike, tighter.
"I'd kill to know what you're thinking right now," Mike breathed.
"Three words?" Will asked, though he already knew the answer.
"I'll take it," Mike ran his fingers through Will's grey hair.
"I love you," Will said.
"Love you, too."