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Sleeping wasn’t an option, not when he was trying (and failing) to write a good story for a campaign. He should have made his way to the bed and fuck everything– but he kept ripping off the paper each time he realized what he had wrote was really bad. He wasn’t good at this anymore, was he? It didn’t matter, they didn’t play DnD anymore, and Mike was aware every member of the Party, even El, even Max, knew . All of them knew things had been weird between him and Will lately– the last three years. They were willing to talk about it, to know what was going on , but Mike pushed them away, so they stopped trying. They could play anything else, or just hang out.
This time, Mike was being hopeful, as if a good story was the key to forgetting why they stopped playing in the first place. So he kept pressuring himself until it was eight in the morning and his eyes were foggy and his head was buzzing.
He would regret having made plans with his friends for that day.
“I’m telling yo– No! No! You’re horribly wrong! The first Karate Kid is the bes– Ah! You fucker!” Dustin was cut off by a fry full of ketchup landing violently on his face. Lucas kicked on his feet, letting out a laugh.
“The second one is better! Science, man,” he said with jazz hands. “And you’re not always right, but your stubborn ass would never give up.”
“Yes I am! You and your stupid ‘second one’ rule, it makes no fucking sense!”
“ You make no fucking sense!”
“Huh?” Mike looked up at Will and rested his chin on one knee, throwing his hair back vaguely. He wondered how long Will had been staring at him, because he had his arm extended toward Mike, with his hand shaking a pretzel bag.
Will turned to his side. “I said if you want– are you okay ?” He tilted his head, raising his brows, concerned.
“...Yeah, yeah. Just– tired. I don’t know.”
“Oh.”
“I guess I’m going ho–”
“Do you want to come home with me?” Will looked away, flushed cheeks, and hurried to clarify, “I mean. I know you don’t like being at your house that much , so I was thinking, uh– sorry, forget it.”
“Will…”
“Sorry. You look like a zombie and I’m making plans like we are all happy . I’m being stupid. Forget it.”
Will stared at his hands on his lap, and Mike felt his own hands itching at the need of squeezing Will’s. They stayed quiet for a moment. Meanwhile, Dustin and Lucas were in their own world, arguing about Halloween costumes and why the jock’s party was a very no.
“They are jocks , Lucas!”
“So am I, dude!”
“It’s not the same! You were our friend before joining the basketball team! You betrayed us but we love you anyways,” Dustin said, proud, like he was doing Lucas a favor.
“Jeez! Please! It’s gonna be a good party, man. We can always leave.” Lucas rolled his eyes, throwing his hands up, exhausted.
“Can you finish what you were saying?” Mike mumbled, tapping his pinky on Will’s forearm, caressing it faintly.
Will glanced at him behind his long lashes, grimacing. “About me being stupid?”
Mike sighed and continued caressing Will’s forearm with his pinky. “No. About going to your house and pretending to be happy.”
“It was a bad idea, Mike,”
“Well, it sounds like something I could do right now…” he grinned at Will.
“I don’t thin–”
“ Please .”
“Okay.”
They stood up, waving their hands goodbye.
“You leaving?” Dustin looked back over his shoulder, chin tilted up.
Will peeked at Mike out of the corner of his eye. “Yeah. Mike feels… He doesn’t feel very good…”
“My head hurts like hell.”
Mike put a hand on his forehead and pressed his temples, scrunching his nose. The other two just nodded and waved back. “Call us when you’re home. Call both of us, ‘cause I think I’m breaking up with Lucas . This friendship is nonsense .”
Lucas slapped Dustin’s head with his palm, feigning offense but with a hint of amusement slipping off his glinting glare.
The Byers’ house was warm and quiet, late afternoon sun making fun shapes through the curtains. It had been a while since Mike and Will hung out alone. They were always with the Party, having lunch or at the arcade. There were a lot of sleepovers, with snacks and movies and dumb games. Even sometimes, they could sleep at Steve’s and steal some of his weed, climb up to the roof and get high. But the lack of privacy had become unbearable, and Mike thought he could feel less depressed if he tried and took the chance to be alone with his best friend.
Mike shut the door behind him and walked toward Will, who put the kettle on the stove.
“Tea?”
“Sure.”
“Are you getting enough sleep?”
“Are you ?” Mike bit his lip and lifted his head, accusative finger pointing at Will.
Will shifted on his feet and let out a huff. “Uh– not really.”
“Me neither.”
“Do you think they’re mad because we left?” Will asked, looking at the kettle and holding it by the handle carefully so as not to burn his fingers.
“Why would they?”
“I don’t know. Sometimes I think they don’t say what they think.”
“Will, they are always yelling what they think,” Will hummed in response. “Why do you think that?”
“Can you hand me those cups?” He pointed at the cups on the counter Mike was leaning on.
“W– Yeah, yeah.”
“Thanks. This is…” Will squinted his eyes as he read the teabox, one corner of his mouth curled up, “Detox. Ginger, Mint, Lemon flavor with Hibiscus Flowers and Turmeric,” he scowled and snorted. “Might destroy your headache.” He filled the cups with hot water and gave Mike the blue one.
“You mean I’m gonna shit my pants?” Mike raised his brows, grabbing the cup Will passed him with one hand, the other resting on his chest.
“No, dumbass,” Will chuckled. “You’re gross, you know that?”
“I’m gonna shit my pants with your magic tea.”
“Maybe.” Will blew on his tea and took a sip. “Wanna go to my bedroom?”
“Yeah.”
So, here’s the issue. Mike was struggling with all the trauma . He had lost his girlfriend, twice, and his best friend, thrice, and the world was ending , and sometimes the only thing he could think about was he didn’t know who he was or where he was anymore. They defeated the Upside Down, it was gone for real this time. But every time he closed his eyes, he saw fire and blood and monsters, and he woke up sweating and screaming and his palms were bleeding from digging his own nails in them.
At some point, the dreams began to be more abstract– there was nothing but angst. Sometimes, he was running somewhere and, when it seemed like he was finally reaching the way out (whatever the way out was), he ended up back where he had started. Other times, he could see the rain pouring down and Will yelling at him that it wasn’t his fault Mike didn’t like girls, and then El was standing right in front of him pleading him to stop lying to her, to himself. You don’t love me that way, Mike. But you’re too selfish to understand. From one moment to another, he was gasping hard on this bed, all his cheeks and temples were wet and his eyes were puffy as if he had been crying.
Surprisingly, at this occasion he was doing better than he expected. Yeah, all his body was trembling and he felt his eyeballs were about to explode. But Will’s house was comfortable enough for him to calm down.
They made their way to Will’s room and sat down on the carpeted floor, side by side. Will turned on the heater and they leaned on the side of the bed, legs sprawled messily.
Will was fully concentrated looking at the tea bag floating in the cup. “How do you feel?”
“A little less dead. Your room is nice. Maybe I could take a nap, y’know.” Mike nudged him. Will smiled just a little, scrunching his face.
“It’s seven in the evening, Mike. But sure, you can take a nap if you want to.”
“You good?” Mike rested his head on Will’s shoulder. Will rested his cheek on top of Mike’s head.
“Yeah. Why?”
“I thought–” his voice trailed off.
“You thought?”
Mike sighed. “Well. You know. Earlier, we were talking about pretending happiness and then you talked about how you think Dustin and Lucas don’t always say what they think and– and you cut me off when I asked you what you meant,” he gestured with his hand while explaining, “And I don’t know if you want to talk about it but I thought you might have something to tell me .”
Will was silent, playing with a green plastic ring with a frog face on it. It seemed like he didn’t know what to reply.
“Will…”
“Sorry, I–”
“Does that include me ? I–I mean, were you talking about me too? You think that I don’t speak my mind enough?” Mike straightened his back and crossed his legs, turning to Will, looking at him with questioning eyes and his fingers tapping his own shoulders like pointing himself. Will gazed at Mike, looking back and forth between Mike’s eyes, with his lips half-parted.
“Sometimes,” he looked away and scratched the back of his neck. “Sometimes I don’t know what’s going on in there , and I tend to freak out thinking that maybe you are mad at me.”
“Mad? I’m not mad . Why would I?” Mike frowned. Will shrugged and Mike grabbed him by the shoulders gently. “I’m not mad. Please, tell me .”
“I don’t want to fight.”
“We’re not fighting, Will.”
“If I tell you, you will get mad.”
“Tell me.”
“It’s just- I–” he pulled away and crossed his arms over his chest, sighing. “Your hug was shit. It was barely a hug, even. And I know we talked and all, but– I don’t know, why couldn’t you hug me the right way?” Will’s eyes were red rimmed. He stood up, arms kept crossed. “Why didn’t you hug me, Mike?”
Mike stood up, frozen, and clasped his hands together, staring carefully at Will with his eyes now red rimmed too. He knew that acting like a clueless moron worked a lot of times in the past. Now, he realized this time it only made everything worse. Will seemed so broken and sad and eager to hear a reason. And it was all Mike’s fault.
“Tell me wh–”
“God, I’m so sorry Will,” Mike stepped forward and took Will’s hands and squeezed a little. “I’m so sorry. You’re right. I g–gave you the worst hug ever. I’m the worst b–best f–friend in the universe.”
Will pulled away again, not saying a word.
“You’re r–right. Sometimes I don’t speak my mind. But it’s not because I’m mad at you, I’m not– I’m not mad at you. Believe me. I’m not.”
“What is it, then?”
That’s it. He needed to tear down the walls between them and stop being the asshole he had been all his life. Will was his best friend, the person he loved the most, the person who loved him the most and wanted to live in the basement and play board games with him. Will wanted to live with him . And he ruined it all.
“I was miserable ,” Mike groaned. “And I– felt fucking guilty, and useless, you k–know. Because we had that fight after your campaign, it was great by the w–way, and I–” he swallowed and flushed his tears away, trying to keep a steady voice. “I said things that I didn’t mean. I tried to apologize but everything was a horrible mess and I– I resigned myself. I forced Lucas to bike in the rain and we saw you and–and Castle Byers was… It was a disaster and we never mentioned that again. I was playing dumb ‘cause I thought it was too late for me to get my shit together.”
Will was looking at Mike widely, tears easily running down his trembling lips. “M–Mike–”
“I called, okay? I called you. And you never called back and I thought ‘maybe Will’s angry because I’m a bad friend and he doesn’t want to talk to me ever again’. Then I arrived in Cali and I panicked thinking about that and– yes, you’re totally right. My not-a-hug was shit. I tried to play it cool but then I realized it was fucking rude . I’m so so sorry, Will.”
“Mike–”
Mike looked down at the tea cups forgotten next to the leg of the bed. He sobbed hard, shaking his head, and whispered, “I don’t wanna lose you.”
Will walked toward Mike and reached for his arms, rubbing them up and down gently. “You’re not losing me, Mike. You didn’t, and you won’t. I promise.”
“I’m a shitty friend. You should hate me.”
Will released a sniff. “ No , Mike. I don’t hate you, I lo–”
“Will, sweetheart! We’re home!” The voice came from the front door. Mike and Will startled and pulled away with a little jump, both of them drying the tears with their sleeves. A few steps later, the door opened and Joyce showed herself wearing a big-ass pumpkin sweater. “Hi! We– Oh, Mike!” she scanned Mike with her detective eyes. “Everything okay ?”
“Mom–”
“Hi, Mrs Byers. Yeah, we’re good.” Mike smiled at her.
“Oh, honey. I don’t want you to keep calling me Mrs Byers ‘till death !” She said, shaking her head.
“MOM–”
Mike giggled and pulled Joyce into a little one sided hug as she kissed his cheek. “Just Joyce, honey.”
“Okay, Joyce.”
“Are you staying for dinner? You could stay the night.”
Mike glanced at Will, who pulled his lips up in a tiny smile.
“Yeah, ‘course.” He said with a toothy smile.
“Great! Hop and El are going to cook lasagna and we bought some ice cream for later. Is that okay?” Joyce asked them, beaming.
“Hopper can cook ?” Will frowned, amused. Mike shoved his arm with a fist.
“Will! Don’t say that about Dad Jim! You’re not a good cook either , dude.”
“Aw! Rude!”
“He’s right, baby,” Joyce smoothly stroked Will’s shoulder. “You almost burned the kitchen that time you tried to make waffles for El.” Mike remembered the scene and burst into laughter.
“Mom! That's not fair. You should be on my side!”
“No, no taking sides in this house.” She stated and stepped out of the room, leaving them alone again.
Mike lay on the floor dramatically, rambling about a game he could afford if he only had an unreasonable dreamy job. He was wearing a pair of baggy sweatpants and an old Blade Runner T-shirt he borrowed from Will (and obviously, Will had stolen it from Jonathan). Dinner was great, actually. Hop and El’s lasagna was the best attempt of food he could have ever seen after Will’s Waffles Incident.
It was in the middle of September– they had planned to go to the movies, but El woke up sick. So all the Party ended up at the Byers’ trying to cheer her up. And Will was so convinced he was able to make her waffles.
Are you sure what you doing, dude?
It’s not that hard, Lucas. Don’t be ridiculous.
In one second, Will managed to set on fire the first kind-of-a-waffle he was making, and all the kitchen began to fill with big gray clouds. Told ya’! I can’t believe you burned your first waffle ever , Lucas had said. Mike smiled at the memory; they would never let him live it down.
“Are you even listening to me, Will?”
Will hummed absent-mindedly, sitting on the corner of the bed with one leg below him and the other swinging off.
“Why didn’t we go to Las Vegas? You even talked about committing fraud ! I need money, man!”
Will didn’t look at Mike, he just threw a hand up and waved it down, cutting him off. Mike climbed into Will’s bed, lying next to him. “Hey.”
“Hey.” Will glanced at him over his sketchbook, cheeks and nose turning pink.
“Will, I’m so sorry.”
“I’m sorry too.”
“Why?” Mike’s contemplating eyes examined Will.
Will put the sketchbook aside, hands stained with charcoal, and sighed heavily. “I should’ve called. I was being childish about you guys growing apart.”
“We’re not. ”
“Uh?” His brows drew together.
“We’re not growing apart, right, Will?” Mike leaned closer with puppy eyes.
“Uh– I dunno.”
“Don’t be sorry, I was too worried about El, I know. Then she dumped my ass agai– I’m starting to think she really loves dumping me!”
“She surely does,” Will chuckled, covering his mouth. “Once Max taught her how to do it, she was very obstinate about being the best.”
Mike giggled. “–And I thought I was going to die , but nothing happened. So, we talked, like, a lot , and figured out we are better as friends.”
“Yeah, she told me. And she was– she is happy. So, I guess everything’s fine.” Will grinned, peeping at his half-portrait of a grumpy curly-headed boy.
“Uhum.” Mike muttered. Will leaned a little to the right while he was trying to fix something in his sketch. Mike didn’t understand how Will could draw in that terrible position. Sure, Mike had done that a lot of times. But Will was always drawing that way, on his bed, curling into a ball.
“What were Dustin and Lucas talking about today? The Karate Kid thing?”
“Uh, I don’t think I remember–”
“Ah, yes! Lucas’ ‘ second one ’ rule!” Mike's eyes sparkling as he sprawled his hands in the air with L-shaped fingers, lifting his body a little. Will winced in confusion.
“ What ? What's that ?”
“Lucas says the second movie of a saga is always the best one. Anyways, he says that about everything .” Mike replied, clicking his tongue.
Will crossed his arms and snorted with a teasing grin. “I’m pretty sure that’s not how things work, Mike–”
“We could apply that rule here .”
His arms loosened. He wiped his hands together to remove the charcoal. “Uh– how so?”
“Maybe I– I could give you the ‘second one’ of that dreadfully awful hug and see if Lucas is right. Whaddayathink?” Mike wiggled his eyebrows while sitting up. He shifted, resting his weight on the calves, facing Will. Will's gaze softened, his lips parted when he breathed out.
“I would really love that, Mike.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.”
Mike leaned toward Will, putting his arms around his waist, pulling Will closer in an awkward tight and warm hug. He could feel how Will’s shoulders relaxed as he wrapped Mike’s neck as tight as Mike was hugging him, hands slightly clutching the back of his shirt. Three minutes passed, but they didn’t move.
“Will?” Mike mumbled on Will’s neck.
“Uhm?”
“I missed you.”
“I missed you too.” Will said under his breath and he went silent for a moment. Then, he squeezed Mike in his arms one more time as he spoke. “I missed you so much you don’t even know, Mike.”
Mike pulled back gently, hands hovering over Will’s hips. “You’re my best friend, you know?” He said expectantly, with watery eyes and his lips twitching. “I–I can’t lose you again .”
“Mike,” Will cupped Mike’s cheeks in his hands, locking eyes. “You won’t. You’re my best friend in the whole world, okay? I can’t lose you either.”
“You mean it?” Mike’s tears kept falling apart effortlessly, but he kept his eyes on Will, drops shining on his lashes.
“But– Of course I do! Why would you–? You’re such a dumb specimen, Wheeler.” Will pushed his arm, feigning annoyance.
Mike rolled his eyes. “Come on!”
Will pulled him back to the hug. “Of course I mean it, Mike, you are one of the most important people I have.” He wiped Mike’s tears away with his thumbs.
“That’s better, thank you.”
Everything has always been different with Will, honestly, but he didn’t know why. Of course, he loved Will, and he knew Will loved him. But there was a moment something in his head clicked, and his feelings turned into something odd. And then, he found himself being upset, being jealous. Will likes someone? Will made doodles for someone? Why do you care? He can like someone, it’s not like you are in love with him. Sure, he is your best friend, but he is not yours. But, again, he couldn’t help but think about watching movies and making art for each other, and holding hands, and then, he finally realized. Okay, I get it, you like Will, so wh– Oh no, you like Will.
Something else to add to the “You idiot” list.
They looked breathless at each other, their noses almost bumping. Will was so pretty and bright and kissable. Mike felt his skin burning hot and needed to escape before he could do something really stupid. So he broke the hug, and touched his nape, embarrassed. When he looked at his fingertips, he yelped. “You! I’m full of your charcoal! It was a trap!” He threw himself on Will, tickling his ribs. “I will beg El to turn you into apple pie for Halloween!”
“Stop! Mike, s–stop! It’s late! Hop’s go–gonna kill u–us!” Will labored breathing. “God, let me go ! You idiot, Agh !” He shoved Mike with both hands on his face. Mike landed next to him, panting and giggling. His stomach hurt from the laugh.
“Can I– Can I sleep in your bed tonight?”
Will was already getting off the bed, panting. “Yep, sure. I can bring my sleeping b–”
“No!”
“No?”
“I mean– you can– you can sleep here with me . Is that–is that okay?”
It was the tenth time Will blushed that night. Mike thought that maybe he had ruined all his progress with his clinginess. Years and years of friendship and love thrown in the trash. Why couldn't he shut the fuck up? You’re so stupid, Mike. Bury your body in quicksand. Jump off the quarry for the second time. That was the rule, right? The second one is better. He might die if he did so, freeing every person around him from his annoying ass–
“Okay, yeah.” Will quickly nodded, while he put the sketchbook -that flew through the air during their tickle fight- on the desk. He sat on the bed again, stretching as if he was a cat.
Mike stopped his train of thought . Wait, what.
“Wai– Really?”
Maybe he didn't need to jump off the quarry after all .
“Yeah! Why not?” Will plopped backwards beside Mike and stared at the ceiling, chest raising and falling slowly in peace. Mike peered at him one more time.
Mike fell half-asleep looking at the stars stickers glowing green above them; the room was cozy, the soft breath of Will was the only sound filling it. The warmth made him feel good, safe. This is so right . So he started to dream of the swings and the lake and Will’s hands full of charcoal and the face he made when he was drawing, and his smell and–
He felt something shifting next to him, sheets moving back and forth and the mattress creaking. Huh . He turned on his side and opened his eyes a little. Will was looking at him, a hand under the pillow and the other one tapping the bed with his index and middle finger like a drum. He stared at Mike with an unreadable look, something Mike couldn’t put his finger on.
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to wake you up,” he murmured and stopped the beat.
Mike shook his head. “Are you okay? You seem upset.”
“Yeah, no, I’m fine . It’s just– I th– There’s something I really need to tell you.”
Oh no . Mike felt his heart pounding hard inside his chest. “What’s wrong?”
“No, Mike. Nothing’s wrong ,” Will reached for Mike’s hand, holding it softly. He barely leaned on his elbow, his grip steady. “It’s– It’s just–” he closed his eyes briefly and bit his lip.
“You know you can tell me whatever you want,” Mike frowned and put his other hand on top of Will’s. “What is it? Did I do something wr–”
“I love you.”
Oh. Oh. That’s why things have been weird . That’s why Will has been weird too.
His jaw dropped and his eyes started to get glassy. “You– you love me?”
Will tried to pull his hands away, but Mike was strangling them. He sighed, but didn’t look away.
“Yes.”
Will lay down again and buried the side of his face in the pillow. He was oh so close , his heat irradiating off him and his scent hitting Mike’s face, suffocating him, but it felt so nice he’d rather die than move. Maybe Will already knew. Maybe that's why he seemed confident enough, as if he was waiting for Mike to say it, to open up a little more. Maybe Will wanted him to do that stupid thing earlier . You should be such a jerk not to notice when it looked like Mike’s body was melting each time Will just touched him or tried to get his attention. Mike wasn’t a subtle person, and Will scared the shit out of him. That's why Mike didn't hug him. It's not that he was lying when he apologized. But the rest of the truth was there, dangling above their heads. Will made him feel different and Mike was terrified .
A beat.
Will’s face fell and he tried to withdraw. “Oh God, Mike, I’m so sorry I thoug–”
“I love you too, Will.” He blurted out and moved forward, tilting his head. At this point, they were whispering breathlessly. Will's eyes widened and relaxed with relief , his face lighting up.
“You–you do?”
“Yeah.”
“Okay.”
They stood still for an insufferable amount of time.
“Will…”
Will lifted his chin in response. Mike noticed him looking down at his lips and wetting his own, and looking back at his face, and he thought his soul was leaving his body for good. He moved forward again. Will’s hands fiddling with the hem of Mike’s shirt and Mike’s hands ghosting over Will’s jaw, with the intention of getting him closer.
“I want to…”
“Do it, please .”
Without hesitation, Mike grabbed Will’s jaw and kissed him slowly. And oh , Will was so sweet, literally sweet . He could recognize the mint chocolate chip ice cream Will liked so much, and the strawberry, and fries. Will loved dipping fries in ice cream.
Jesus Christ, Will! That’s disgusting!
You put syrup on your eggs! What do you have to say about that atrocity?
I know you do that too! I saw you!
No you didn’t!
He smiled in the kiss as Will tugged at the front of his shirt. His hands were so firm and protective, and yet, Will was so soft and careful, trying to be gentle when he was basically entangling Mike with his legs. They pulled away after a while and looked up at the glowy stars again. Will put an arm around Mike’s shoulders and Mike rested his head on Will’s chest.
“You really like those, right?”
“Uhum. I don’t like when the room is completely dark, it makes me feel claustrophobic .” Will shrugged, his mouth shut in a thin line.
Mike nodded. “I know. I could bring you some of another color, would you like that?” He patted Will’s belly and Will snorted, throwing his head back.
“Yeah, blue ones would be nice,” he grinned at the ceiling. “You know, I think Lucas was right.”
Mike lifted his head and squinted at Will. “Uh?”
Will looked at him, and kept coiling one strand of Mike’s hair. “The rule, Mike. Lucas was right.”
“The rul—? Oh. The rule .” His eyes widened at the realization.
“Dustin’s gonna be so pissed he’s gonna throw his new cat on our faces when we sleep,”
“Will!” Mike sat up, forcing Will to move. He frantically shook his head in denying, moving a hand. “He would never do something like that!”
“Oh, trust me, he totally would. Each time they get a new cat it’s like–’ts like–” Will burst into laughter, his arms over his stomach. “–he's threatening you with a wea–apon. You have cute, dangerous claws, don’t you, Pudding?”
“He named his new cat Pudding ?” The high pitch of Mike’s voice made Will laugh harder.
“Were you even there, Mike?”
“Well yeah , but I was on the couch distracted with the oth–what’s the name? The orange one–”
“Cookie Dough?”
“ Really ?” Mike deadpanned, his shoulders loosening in disbelief.
Will plopped back, panting. His head hanging off the side of the bed. “God, Mike. You gonna kill me.”
Mike plopped down next to him and closed his eyes, sighing. That’s when he realized– the headache, the buzzing, left hours ago. Sure, he was overly tired, it would be so easy to fall asleep right there, and fall off the bed, too. The faint yellow light of Will’s bedside lamp filtered through his eyelids. He could hear Will humming some song he didn’t recognize, his fingertips tapping Mike’s palm resting between them. The rhythm was contagious, though; sort of a pop song he knew but didn’t remember. It surprised him when he found himself humming, getting a few hints. He zoned out, the limbo of the unknown melody swallowing him. This has to have a guitar there, and drums. Maybe maracas–
“Are you singing La Isla Bonita ?” Mike’s eyes fluttered open and he turned his head to Will.
Will was with his eyes closed, caressing Mike’s hand. “It took you a long time. And you really love Madonna,”
“That’s just not true!”
“Don’t lie to me!” He slapped Mike’s hand. “No more lying to each other.”
Mike giggled, intertwining his fingers with Will’s. “So, are we good?” He squeezed his hand. Will squeezed back.
“Yeah, Mike. I mean– I think we should talk more. Like, we need to. But we are– we are good. We are great.” He sat up, looking down at Mike and tilted his head toward the pillow. “Come on, let’s go to sleep. I can still bring my sleeping bag if you want.”
“ What ?” He lifted his body leaning on his elbows. “No . You said you were gonna sleep in your bed with me . No refund.” He shook his head while getting up.
Will let out a laugh. “Yeah, yeah, okay. You’re right.”
He moved and got underneath the blanket. Mike mirrored him; then he wrapped Will’s waist with his arm, pulling him close.
He might keep dreaming about the trauma, and his sleep schedule was so fucked up. Mike was like an owl–okay, maybe, more like a raccoon , sneaking around his house late at night, tip-toeing here and there, taking stuff off the fridge and running downstairs to the basement to lie on the couch and eat or cry or stare at the ceiling and suffer. But, for this time, everything was fine. He was fine. For this time, he didn’t need to pretend .
Will closed his eyes and brushed his nose against Mike’s forehead.
“Goodnight, Mike.”
“Yeah. Goodnight .”