Work Text:
"Where is Mike? He was supposed to come hours ago. I have to get to work soon" Max complained as she ran a hand through her ginger hair.
"You have work in seven hours calm down." Lucas laughed but it was quickly met by a slap on the wrist.
Mike has always been late; ever since the party met him. Now that they were twenty-two nothing has changed.
Jane pulls out her flip phone and calls Mike. The phone rings for a while and then sends her to voice mail.
"He's always late and it's getting annoying." Jane groans.
Max tries to call but the same happens to her.
Dustin and Lucas try to but the same happens.
"This is the only time I have an entire weekend off from work and Mike decided to not come." Dustin whines.
Will picks up his flip phone and calls Mike. One ring then Mike's soothing voice rang through the phone.
"Hey," Mike spoke calmly.
On the other side of the phone, Mike wasn't so calm. He was anything but. Red crept on his face as he waited for Will to speak.
"Are you coming?" Will asked in that cheerful tone he has.
"Oh- I- Yea I thought you said you weren't going," Mike questioned.
"Changed my mind last minute. Are you coming?" Will repeated.
"Yea," Mike stated covering up his excitement.
It was an excuse to see Will and he wasn't letting it down. Mike rushed to get ready as Will looked up from his phone. Everyone's faces had wide smiles as they burst in synchronized laughter. Will's confused face made them laugh harder.
"Alright give me twenty bucks," Dustin spoke through laughter to Lucas.
"That's so unfair! Everyone could see it but I was blind at the time.This was a stupid bet we made when we are twelve leave it to rest." Lucas whined.
"Someone Explain," Will exclaimed in confusion.
"My brother is stupid." Jane sighed with laughter.
"Mike obviously likes you. Also, Lucas and I might have made a bet about every time Mike would drop everything for you. I make a steady income from this." Dustin exclaimed as his voice got higher.
Will was slightly confused since Mike had always been like this to him but decided it was best not to say.
"His favoritism has always shined." Max chuckled.
"What? Yall sound crazy." Will awkwardly laughed trying to hide the dark crimson his face had turned.
The laughter stopped when Mike stepped next to Will.
"What happened?" Mike asked.
"Nothing." Will reported.
Will's body tensed up at the feeling of Mike's cold voice. Mike ruffled Will's newly done hair.
"No bowl cut?" Mike asked.
"Nope. never again." Will remarked.
"I'll miss it." Mike stated with a sly smile.
Mike kept his cool even though his heart was pounding out of his chest. Wills's face was flushed with that familiar crimson again.
The day went as planned. Some slight flirting between Mike and Will. When their hangout was over they said their goodbyes and split.
Will had made it home pretty late due to how far away he was and how long they hung out.
As Will walked into his apartment he was met with some familiar eyes. Some eyes he wished he would never meet again.
"How is my son?" Lonnie asked taking a swig from a beer bottle in his hand.
He's been randomly showing up and Will's mom says he just wants to have a conversation but having a normal conversation is the last thing Will and he does.
"What this time?" Will questioned, certainly annoyed.
"Don't seem very happy to see me. I just need some money and ill get out your hair." Lonnie cackled.
His terrifying laugh always sent a shiver through Will's body.
Every time this happened Will complied so he would leave but lately, Will had been having a hard time with money. he had none to spare.
"I don't have anything." Will shared.
He snuffed down a tremble as Lonnie angrily got up from the seat he was in. he threw his bottle on the ground. Glass shattered everywhere. He flinched as Lonnie got in his face.
"You're lying," Lonnie stated as he got in Will's face.
Will shook his head as he backed up into the door. Lonnie let out a scream as he started pacing the floor.
"Will you don't fucking understand I need money now," Lonnie screamed.
He got in Wills's face as he said that then started pacing again.
"Hopper won't allow me to come around Joyce and I can't even get ahold of Jonathan," Lonnie screamed.
Lucky Jonathan.
"Wait... You can't go around Joyce? Then how did you tell me that she allowed you to have a key and that 'you just wanted to talk to me'?" Will questioned.
"You really are gullible, you always have been." Lonnie laughed.
Lonnie picked up a glass shard.
" Will, you don't understand, I need that money," Lonnie whined.
Will tried to step back again but the door blocked his way. Lonnie brought the glass shard to Will and dragged it on Will's arm.
Will ran to his bathroom.
"I need the money," Lonnie called after Will.
Will locked the door.
Will leaned on the door and slowly fell into a sitting pose. He hugged his knees as he allowed a tear to run down his face. Without thinking he grabbed his flip phone and dialed Mike's number.
One ring then Mike's voice hit his ear.
"Hello?" Mike questioned in a sleepy voice.
"Have I awoken you?" Will asked trying to hide the fact he was crying.
Mike could see right through Will though and he knew that Will had been crying.
"What's wrong Will?" Mike requested in a worried tone.
Mike had jumped up from his bed and was now throwing on a sweater.
"Will, I need the money." Lonnie wailed.
"Was that Lonnie? Where are you?" Mike stammered.
"I'm home don't worry. I'm fine, I'm sorry for waking you. I've gotta go." Will worded as he hung up.
Mike was already in his car speeding to the other side of town. Mike knew Will lived forty-five minutes away but he didn't care. He would turn the forty-five-minute drive into a fifteen-minute drive. he speeded through lanes as he tried to find shortcuts.
Will sat on the floor listening to the banging of his dad throwing everything in his apartment. He suddenly heard the door unlock and yelling. A knock hit the bathroom door.
"Hello? Will?" Mike whispered into the door trying his hardest to not scare Will.
Will hesitantly unlocked the door.
Mike quickly opened the door and rushed to Will's aid.
"Your arm!" Mike stammered.
"You came..." Will trailed off.
Will let Mike take him in his arms.
Mike cradled Will as he cried into his chest.
"I'll get someone over to change your locks and please put your spare key anywhere but under your mat," Mike expressed as he caressed Will's hair.
Will nodded into Mike's sweater.
"He's gone I swear." Mike soothingly whispered.
Will was tangled in Mike's arms. They sat on the bathroom floor till Mike finally fixed up Will's nasty cut.
"It's pretty late. You should stay." Will remarked as he started to change.
Mike looked the other way.
"Oh- sure," Mike muttered.
Will slipped under his covers as he patted the place next to him. Mike laid next to Will. The night went by and Will stayed up thinking about the events that happened that day. He thought about how Mike answered him in one ring. The thought tickled Will's brain. Did Mike think of Will the way Will thought of Mike? He fell asleep with the hope that one day Mike wouldn't just be his best friend but something more... much more...