Work Text:
Will woke up slowly. It was refreshing, and so different from what he was accustomed to. He was used to waking up in a cold sweat, dread filling his senses and the ever so present tingling in the back of his neck. But recently, all he could feel was calm, and warmth. Like he was perpetually in a dream, incapable of leaving this blissful state. And the fact is, he knew precisely why he felt that way.
Because Mike Wheeler was sleeping right next to him.
It might be a mundane detail, but the mere presence of the boy next to him changed Will’s life forever and for the best. Here, gently caressed by the morning light peeking through the window, highlighting his freckles and painting his hair and skin with that beautiful golden light, laid Mike Wheeler. The gentle inhales and exhales were the only sound Will could hear from him, sign that his best friend was still in a deep slumber.
So, shamelessly, and because Will was greedy, he stared openly at Mike. From this distance, Will was able to make out the constellation of freckles on Mike’s cheeks, the long eyelashes resting upon his cheeks, and the almost imperceptible scrunch of his eyebrows. He seemed so serene, so young in this vulnerable state, that a part of Will wished he wouldn’t wake up for the next hours.
In the years that he’s known Mike Wheeler, there were very few moments where Mike felt relaxed enough to let go. He was always on edge, as far as he could remember, because he thought anyone and everyone were out to get them. His fear and worry for others rendered him restless, and he lost his innocence long ago. Though maybe ‘locked away’ would be a better term for him. Mike allowed himself very few childish moments, as he shouldered his role of the leader. And maybe this was why Will tried to be a child for them both, forcing him to loosen up as they barely enjoyed their childhood. Both were forced to grow up too quickly, though their circumstances were different, the results were roughly the same.
It was unfair, he thought bitterly. It was so unfair.
Frowning, Will reached out slowly, tracing his fingers on Mike’s cheek tenderly. His eyes fell on the scar on his cheek, running down to his neck. The pink, tender skin served as a reminder of the Upside-Down and its forever haunting effect. And while Will knew Mike was still hurting, he also knew that his best friend would never admit it. He’d rather deal with the pain on his own, than accept anyone’s help. Although it was different with Will, he’s always been that way. Sometimes Will wondered if Mike would hide him a terminal disease or a lethal injury, if he deemed it unimportant. Because if there was one thing Will Byers understood about Mike Wheeler, it’s that rather than acting out of pride, or not wanting his ego bruised, Mike just genuinely believed his health and safety to be something trivial, second to other matters he deemed far more important : like Will’s own life. Truth be told, this trait is probably Will’s least favorite one of Mike. He could endure Mike being a pain in the ass, him being rough around the edges, him being mean or defensive, if it meant he would stop viewing his safety as something he could brush off so easily.
The scar, he knew, was a result of this thought process. While Will didn’t know the details of how he came to be hurt, the only thing that came out of Robin was : “He tried to protect me.” Will didn’t want to push, as worried as he was, because the girl was visibly shaken and blaming herself for letting a kid get hurt for her. Mike spent days at the hospital, having to be fed very carefully. Will might as well decided to live in the hospital with him, despite his clear distaste of the place. He could tell Mike wasn’t fond of it either, with the way he would, at time, have a glazed look. Perhaps he was tired, or perhaps seeing the familiar white coats of doctors, the needles of the nurses, and incessant beeping sound of a medical device in the room, sent him back to screams, growls and flashing lights as they tried to run away from danger.
Will himself wasn’t comfortable in this place, having to confront his own demons, his skin growing colder than before, like a snake. Maybe he became more similar to the MindFlayer than he thought.
The first days were hard on them both ; between the mental strain of being in a hospital and Mike suffering day and night because of his injuries, it felt like they’d never get through. But little by little, Mike managed to talk more, eat a bit better, and the first laugh that reached Will’s ears was gratifying, especially since it didn’t hurt his friend as much.
Will gently let his fingers follow the shape of the scar, mindlessly, as he pondered some more about the mystery that was Mike Wheeler. Granted, he was his best friend, and he probably knew him better than anyone on this planet, but the year they spent apart – it wasn’t a year, but it felt like it – made them feel like strangers for some time. He hated every single moment of it. Having to dance around each other because they weren’t sure if they were overstepping, overthinking everything, arguing over anything because of the remaining issues and tension… Though Will was, in the end, glad they could sort it out, even if it seemed hopeless. Neither of them wanted to give up the other, far too selfish to let the other go. Will was grateful Mike held him in a tight grip, showed him he always cared, that he never stopped caring.
Because, quite frankly, Will was on the verge of letting go, if only for Mike. Will’s mind, as an act of self-preservation, tried to invent new motives for Mike’s sudden radio silence. Maybe the Mike he grew up with was only a fluke, the fruit of his imagination, and the reality was that Mike didn’t care. Now that Will was far, it was clear that the Wheeler boy didn’t think calling was important. Maybe it was for the best, he tried to tell himself. Only, deep down, he knew it wasn’t true. He knew it could never be true. Because Mike cared. He cared probably a bit too much, throwing his entire being into things and people without even thinking about it. And he was proven right during their last argument.
Mike called. Everyday, for months. And Will was faced with the facts, as Erica would say ; he was the one who didn’t call. Perhaps it was in an act of self-protection, trying to mend his broken heart with bloody bandages and useless band-aids, but he ended up hurting the one person he never wanted to hurt. And, see, if he was a bit more petty at the moment, he’d feel relieved. Relieved that Mike suffered as much as him, wondering if he hated him, if his feelings for him were so strong and on the nose that he noticed them. But, upon seeing Mike’s watery eyes, the muscles of his eyebrows slightly jumping, and the tension in his jaw as he desperately tried not to cry, Will could only admit that he never knew. And Mike never planned on telling him.
Mike never planned on telling him.
That was probably the most shocking revelation. Sure, the months worth of calls were still making Will want to jump off the window, screaming into the void, crawl underground, and maybe convince his mom to never get this type of job again, but knowing that Mike planned on getting the full blame for them growing apart… This was so undeniably Mike, and devastatingly so. When it came to Will, Mike decided he’d be sole responsible for their issues, and maybe it wasn’t only for him, but this issue was something Will would never accept. Because Mike was good. He was incredibly loyal, recklessly so, as he would do anything for his friends. He was passionate, it was him who introduced Will to DnD, rambling about his knowledge to his best friend who could only look at him in wonder, eyes bright and mouth open. Mike was kind, hidden behind a thorny wall. He had this softness to him that Will adored. Yes, this was probably the thing about Will and Mike. Will adored Mike. He loved everything about him. His kindness, his mean behavior, when he was annoying and when he was passionate, his bad sides like his good sides. Because everything combined made the blessing that was Mike Wheeler.
Mike was a blessing in Will’s life. He was his strength, and his weakness. He was the blanket hugging his shoulders on a cold night, and he was summer rain. He was the reason Will picked up his crayons, and why he survived all these times. Mike was the light Will held between his two hands, close to his heart, as he hummed his favorite song. Mike, who believed himself to be a nuisance sometimes, who thought no one really liked him, who was surprised when he was shown affection. Mike, who fought fiercely, who made Will feel like he was better for being different, who was everything good in this world and more. Tears gathered in Will’s eyes as he smiled, because he loved loved loved Mike Wheeler.
There wasn’t a world, he was sure, where he wasn’t in love with Mike Wheeler. Will Byers and Mike Wheeler were destined to be in every universe. In another world, if they were apart, Will was certain he’d feel a pull in his heart to where Mike might be. If not, the boy would appear in his dreams. In any case, he knew there would be no way for him to live in a world without him. Perhaps it was the romantic in him, but he seriously thought their souls were bond, glued together by an otherworldly force. And, maybe it wasn’t true. But Will was content with thinking it was.
A sigh left his lips as he rubbed his tears away. Mike’s eyebrows frowned, clear sign that he was waking up slowly. A groan escaped his lips as he shuffled closer to Will, and Will welcomed him wholeheartedly. Limbs now tangled, Mike’s head under Will’s chin, a content sigh brushing against his collarbone, their new position was almost enough to put Will back to sleep. Gleefully, he relished in the fact that Mike didn’t show this side of himself to anyone, except him. To some extent, Mike had some walls up with Will, though he got to be a bit more vulnerable with him over time. And Will was the same. They built walls after walls, desperately trying to protect their fragile hearts, a bit too big for their chest, a bit too tender for the world.
His fingers buried in Mike’s hair, earning a pleasured sigh from the boy, Will felt a bit emotional. Maybe it was because they were finally free from all these horrors, though the scars would stay forever, or maybe it was because of Mike’s vulnerable silhouette, mess of dark hair on his head and freckles splashed across his skin. In any case, Will’s heart felt full, so full and heavy, but a comfortable weight, like Mike’s body against his. Warm, heavy and real. Something he never thought he could have, he had now in his arms, and will have it for as long as they lived. Mike and Will. Will and Mike.
It was the two of them against the world, hand in hand as they would face any obstacle coming their way. Will was optimistic, though he knew their lives wouldn’t be easy. But with his best friend by his side, he knew they’d get through it. After all, they did defeat Henry, it would be a shame to be taken out by something else, now.
“Will ?” Mike called, in a small, groggy voice, sign that he just woke up and was barely conscious yet. Will moved a bit, trying to get a look at his boyfriend’s face, who tried both to open his eyes and keep them closed.
“You’re awake ?” Will answered, his voice soft, as he gently combed Mike’s hair through his fingers. Mike sighed, snuggling against him, muttering nonsense against his collarbone. Will lightly laughed ; Mike was a cuddling mess when tired.
“It should be a crime to wake up this early.” He groaned, trying to will himself back to sleep, but Mike was never able to fall asleep again after waking up. Wiggling his body, Mike got himself to the same level as Will, and though his eyes were clearly clouded by sleep, Will couldn’t help but find him stunning. His eyes, dark, dark and comforting, like a never ending ocean, hiding beautiful treasures inside, shining with intelligence. Will tucked away some stray strands from his face, gently cradling his cheek.
“Hi.” Will greeted, a smile tugging his lips that he tried to bite down. Mike smiled back, leaning into his touch, his hand on Will’s waist, warm and soft.
“Hi. Been awake for long ?” He greeted back, kissing Will’s cheek, long and sweet, as his boyfriend giggled. This was pure bliss, Will thought. Waking up with Mike was everything. It was simple, mundane, but so, so special to him. His heart felt so full, love spilling out in his body, filling his veins with his love for Mike. Everything in his body, down to every nerves, screamed for him. Each touch of his burned his epidermis, tainting his skin with his mark forever, and Will wouldn’t mind his whole body being covered by his touch, in the simplest way possible.
“Long enough to know you drool in your sleep.” He teased, smile widening when Mike’s eyes shot open, furiously rubbing at his mouth, cheeks and ears red. Will laughed, and Mike pouted. He groaned again, knocking his forehead against his, and he felt Mike’s fingers tickling his side.
“Mike.” Will warned, giggles escaping his lips, heart beating fast, and Mike smiled, lightly rubbing his nose against his.
“You’re so mean to me, your boyfriend. I think I deserve to punish you a bit.” He said, and if he wasn’t on the verge of getting viciously attacked, Will would focus on the fact that Mike called him his boyfriend. Sure, it shouldn’t make him so happy, but it did, and sue him for this. However, he couldn’t linger on the thought, because Mike began tickling him mercilessly. Will painfully laughed, trying to get Mike’s hands off of him, but weakened by Mike’s attacks, he was now at his mercy, head shaking and body trashing.
After what felt like an eternity, Mike stopped. He was now on top of Will, leaned down towards him, grinning and eyes shining mischievously. His hair tickled Will’s cheeks, as Will tried to regain his breath. Mike took both their hands, interlacing their fingers, and brought Will’s left hand to his lips. If Will wasn’t red from the tickling session, he was now bright red, eyes unblinking as he felt Mike’s lips against his knuckles.
“How about we stay inside, today ?” Mike proposed in his way too familiar voice, as their friends would call ; his “Will voice”. Times ago, he’d have denied it, not wanting to grow too hopeful, thinking that Mike favored him in any way. But now, now he saw what they meant. Because Mike did treat him differently, from the start, and Will was just too used to it to see it.
“Sure,” Will agreed easily, how could he ever say no to Mike ? “What do you have in mind ?” Mike tilted his head, brows furrowed as he thought about their options.
“We could watch a movie. Plan a campaign, something like that.” He shrugged, like what he just said was something that could be brushed off. Will knew it was a way to protect himself just in case Will didn’t want to do that. As if Will would ever say no. As if this wasn’t one of the best things that happened to him.
“I’d love that, Mike.” He responded, his voice barely above a whisper, and the way Mike lit up, eyes shining brightly and lips turned up in a smile made every sacrifice Will ever made worth it.
“Cool.”
“Cool.” Mike lowered his head towards Will, slowly closing his eyes. Will’s heart hammered in his chest, as if his organ had a mind of his own, trying to get as close to Mike as it was humanly possible. Gently, slowly, maybe a bit too much, Mike’s lips slotted against his own. An eruption of warmth, spreading from their connected mouths, to the tip of his toes, bleeding into his bones, melting his brain. He would probably never get used to having Mike kiss him like that, like he was the only thing that mattered in his world. Mike softly squeezed Will’s hands, once, twice, then guided them towards his hips. Once he let go, Will felt his boyfriend’s hands on his cheeks, tilting his head slightly to get a better angle. His own hands appeared to be guided by an external force, or maybe it was Will’s hidden desire, and he ended up squeezing his boyfriend’s waist eagerly, earning a content sigh from the latter, who seemed to melt properly into Will. He wouldn’t mind, certainly not. Chest against chest, mouth against mouth, Will was pretty sure he had no regret left, and his wishes have been answered.
With a pretty loud sound to his ears, burning them as he heard it, their mouths separated and Mike opened his eyes. He was so pretty, with his freshly kissed red lips, slick and plump and inviting, red spread across his cheeks and his ears, tainting his usually pale skin with pretty hues of pinks and reds, eyes shining, slightly dazed from the kiss, irises going darker by the second. Mindlessly, Will ran his knuckles against Mike’s scarred cheek, feeling the warm – and tender where the scar is – skin. Mike opened his mouth, silently asking what Will was doing.
“You’re beautiful.” He blurted out, the words slipping out before he could even process it. They both froze, Will looking like he might throw up, and Mike looking like he just ran a marathon. What was he thinking, saying stuff like this without even realizing ? Will was definitely going crazy, and that was solely Mike’s fault. He was the forbidden apple Will would fall victim to every time. He forced, with a single stare, Will to blurt out all his secrets, which were safely tucked away in some hidden part of his heart. He wasn’t supposed to know how enamored Will was. He wasn’t supposed to know Will’s love for him ran deeper than a simple “I love you”. At least not now. Completely mortified, Will tried to at least save face.
“I —I’m sorry — ”
“You really think so ?” Will’s mouth closed with a click. He stared at Mike, dumbfounded, as his boyfriend tilted his head, his face completely red. He was clearly embarrassed, but his eyes seemed to hold hope that it wasn’t some thoughtless comment and that Will genuinely thought that. And Will was now well versed into Mike’s language to know that he was definitely right.
“...Of course. Of course I do.” He confirmed, head nodding as he squeezed Mike’s waist once more. Mike stared at him, studying him for a few seconds, in which Will felt the need to squirm, not used to be scrutinized like this. Then, when Mike was seemingly satisfied, the Wheeler laid his entire weight on Will, throwing his arms around his neck, nuzzling his face against Will’s cheek. Will, victim to this, could only let out a small sound in protest. Weak it was, though, because Will immediately put his arms around Mike’s back, grazing his spine gently as he blinked in confusion.
“Are you okay ?” He asked, and he felt Mike nodding against him, squeezing his arms a little bit, but not enough to suffocate Will. Mike wasn’t upset, far from that, apparently. Which was nice, because Will couldn’t imagine what to do if Mike was even remotely upset. Which wouldn’t even make any sense, because it’s not like Will insulted him or something – it was a nice compliment ! But, there could be the slightest chance that Mike might have taken offense to that comment, or maybe not, and it’s just Will’s mind talking to him again, as if he was fifteen again. He wasn’t fifteen. He was seventeen, eighteen in three weeks, and he wasn’t prone to such issues anymore. He was more mature. Less insecure. More assertive. Yes, yes definitely. He was the one who initiated their kiss, after all. All him.
(Maybe, just maybe, Mike was the one who told him he loved him first. Which could have prompted the kiss. Just maybe.)
“I can hear you thinking.” Mike said, his voice muffled from where he was, face tucked against Will’s neck. Will pursed his lips, his eyes stuck on the ceiling as he slowly scratched Mike’s scalp with his fingers.
“I’m just – grateful, you know ? I’m glad we managed to come so far, together.”
Mike moved so that he could look Will in the eyes. As their eyes found each other, like they always did, as if their very souls were always looking for the other, Mike smiled, his eyes creasing. The slight scrunch of his eyebrows, the tilting and stretching of lips, the light in his eyes, affection written all across his face, all of this painted a beautiful picture for Will to remember. Mike’s love was like him : loud and powerful. He loved so deeply, like he had trouble keeping it down. Mike was full of love, his heart growing, and growing, and growing, and he had given it to Will, times and times again. Once, at the swings, when they met. Then, when they agreed on going crazy together if it came down to it. Next, when they promised Will would never find another party, it was this time both Mike and Will giving each other their heart. In California, though it was a bit more complicated, Will could think of a few moments where Mike showed Will bits and pieces of his heart. Mike never stopped loving Will, he realized. It was just a matter of showing, and knowing.
And being loved by Mike was just as good as loving him. It was familiar, and so new. Loving Mike was like returning to their old days, when holding hands wasn’t seen as weird, except for a few people, when they would run in green fields and jump in cold water during summer. It was like sleeping over at his house, surrounded by all that smelled like him. Felt like him. Screamed Mike. It was liberating, too. Finally realizing that Will could get something like that too. Like he thought Mike would have with El. Though it was not as freely, they could love each other. Kiss behind closed doors, hold hands under blankets in the dark room of a movie theater, exchange loving looks in crowds, and make others wonder what girl they were looking at. Will enjoyed, though not by choice, the secrecy of their relationship. Of course, there are times where he’d want to scream at anyone that he was dating the most incredible boy on this planet, instead of saying person. He wanted to openly gush about Mike, kiss his cheek whenever he wanted, hold his hand as soon as he felt like it. Maybe once they’d move out, maybe then would he do all these things. The world wasn’t Hawkins, Indiana. It was big, and vast, and full of people. Open-minded people, tolerant and sweet people were anywhere and everywhere, and people like him, like them, even more. People who shared their struggles, who had more experience, who could help, were out there.
“I love you,” Will said.
“I love you.” Mike responded.
For the first time in a while, Will was excited for the future.