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"Mike—" Will started with a hint of laughter in his voice, his amusement merely seeping into his words and colouring them with a playful hint, but Mike quickly interrupted his sentence with a small poke to his bicep, his eyebrows climbing the space on his forehead to silently signal. To clue his boyfriend in on something.
Will raised a brow, his eyes locking into Mike's as the two stayed silent. This was a battle. An intense war. Victory and loss.
Both of them were also very dramatic.
"...I was gonna say that it's perfectly fine if you wanna cuddle... you do know you can just ask... instead of these, I don't know, nothing signals?" Will teased with a small tilt of his head, bringing his hand to intertwine with Mike's.
Mike rolled his eyes softly, his lips cracking into a smile as he mumbled under his breath: Will couldn't pick up on it, but he didn't have the heart to tell Mike so.
"Of course I know that, Will." Mike shifted on the cushion of the sofa, dragging his gaze purposefully away from the wall to Will's face. Will nodded after a delayed minute, smile on his lips to urge Mike to indeed ask. Mike stayed silent, biting the inside of his cheek.
Copper filtered through his tongue and down his throat, filling his mouth with the disgusting bitter taste. Pennies. Will and Mike used to go to the arcade with pennies, quarters, nickels and dimes. When was the last time they were at the arcade? Mike really misses the arcade, maybe he should ask Will for their next date to happen at the arcade. Mike was about to open his mouth to suggest their next date idea he had conjured up, but he was silenced by Will's hand sending electricity coursing through his body.
Mike was pulled flush with Will's chest, his nose burrowed in the crook of Will's neck, between his neck and collarbone, where he could smell the laundry detergent that was signature to the Byers. And Will. He could also smell Will. A lot.
"...Yeah, I was gonna ask for this." *Mike murmured as best he could, his words muffled by skin as he sunk, his body limp and flimsy like a strand of wet spaghetti. Spaghetti sounded like a nice dinner. Spaghetti after the arcade. Perfect date idea. He should really start writing his ideas down.
"Mhm-hm. Sure you were, Michael. You definitely aren't too proud to admit that you like being held. No sir-ie."
Will's tone was sarcastic, but was still laced with a quiet hum and buzz of honey. Mike melted even more, he could hear the victorious smile in Will's tone without having to glance up. Could practically feel the beams of his grin.
The full name didn't slip past Mike, but he ignored the flutter in his chest in favour of wrapping his arms under Will, his leg sliding over Will's hip so he could koala-hug his boyfriend into the sofa.
Mike sighed through his nose, his brain clouded by the scent of Will's soap and... natural smell? Holy shit, was that a cologne? Whatever it was, Mike wanted more. Mike tilted his head up, shifting for a better resting place for his head. He could see Will's face from this angle. That's always a plus.
Will was really pretty, Mike had known that since he was a kid. He'd known that since the first day he'd met him, Mike was very aware of the fact his boyfriend was pure Adonis.
Mike watched Will's eyes flutter to the T.V, watching whatever was on. It gave Mike all the more opportunity to stare. Jawline, his nose, his eyes, his lips, his beauty marks, his throat, his hair... it was just too much and not enough. Mike squeezed tighter.
If Will gave him the chance and enough time, he'd worship the ground he walks on. He'd get to his knees and pray at his feet. He'd write scriptures upon scriptures, holy text about his body and love. Start a religion around his lips and worship his hips like a god damn alter.
...
Mike wasn't the best at expressing emotions without coming across as too little or too much; but Will just made him do it. He just made Mike's tongue run wild and rant and rave about every detail because whenever he'd shut up, Will would give him this look. This look was one that wasn't uncomfortable, just... itchy. It was like Will was commanding him to talk even more and Mike's mouth would snap open and his brain would run through a dictionary like an idiot. A fool. A lovesick fool.
Mike's cheeks burnt scarlet red, his teeth gnawing and ripping into the skin of his bottom lip, even with Will looking elsewhere, Mike was still drawn in and hooked let right and centre. Mike was a sucker for Will. He was his soft spot, he'd made a hole in Mike's heart that only he could fill.
It was like an addiction, a positive one that would send Mike euphoric from a glance or a small touch. Blissfully spinning behind his eyelids as his heart rushed and pumped blood through his veins to travel to his cheeks. Mike was so lost in admiring Will that he couldn't even feel the small circles Will's thumb was dragging along him, his boyfriend was painting his skin without materials.
That thought sent Mike's stomach twisting and matting itself in a delightful squeeze, his heart seemingly not able to take it. After over half a year of dating, you'd think that Mike would be able to cuddle without almost dying at the physical touch...
You'd be wrong.
Mike let his eyes flutter closed, his cheek rubbing against Will's shirt as he did so. Will smelled like washing detergent, soap, vanilla, smoke (Mike could tell that his art assignments were getting to him, because he only ever saw Will smoke when he was really stressed. He didn't like the smell or taste of tobacco, but Will's lips cancelled it out so he'd always kiss him after Will was done smoking) and pure Will. It was intoxicating, too strong and too subtle. Mike needed it injected in his veins.
"...You okay, Mike?" Will whispered into Mike's ear, his hand having moved from Mike's back to his hair, gently carding through the mess of clumpy curls and waves. Mike wiggled his scalp back into Will's fingertips, the small, repeated strokes sending him into an almost comatose state.
"...Wait— what?" Mike asked softly, opening his eyes so he could look at Will. His brow furrowed, a small frown tricking his lips.
"You aren't usually this... quiet."
Maybe it was the fact that Will perceived him enough to pick up on his peculiar silence, maybe it was the fact that Will genuinely worried for Mike, maybe it was both, but whatever it was, it had Mike's heart beating through his ribcage and trying to spear a hole through skin to bounce free. Mike didn't know how to respond, so he stared blankly at Will, mouth slightly agape like a fish that had been brought out of the safety of his tank.
"... You're overwhelming. And underwhelming. Underwhelming sounds mean, what I mean is that you're— I feel like I have too much of you and not enough. If... that... makes... sense..." Mike trailed off, the heat climbing up from his cheeks to his entire face, scarlet red in full force, a rose blooming underneath the sun in a bush. Thriving off it's warmth but cowering and shrivelling as soon as it was alone. Maybe Mike was a rose. Will was the sun.
Will was always warm to the touch, which was really helpful in winter, but it also meant that the love he gave Mike was scorching, it could melt the mouth off of him. His passion was an open flame and Mike was flammable. He was doomed as soon as Will tugged lightly on his hair by accident in his shift of position, his eyes closing.
... That wasn't enough pull for Mike. That wasn't enough. That wont do.
It wasn't a pain thing, it was just too gentle. Too soft and too ticklish. It felt like he was gonna burst at the seams. He couldn't tell if he was overstimulated or just pure insane. Probably the latter, Will was actually very calming when he was overwhelmed.
"... I... see?" Will said, his tone lifting in a small scale.
"Can't explain it better if I tried, Will."
"Yeah, for some reason I wasn't betting on it that you could—"
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing, Michael."
"...Please stop calling me Michael in that... tone..."
Will nodded, rubbing in a slow, deliberate circle in Mike's hair. Will pressed a small peck to the side of Mike's temple, scorching hot like a fever. All consuming like a raging flame and hot and gooey like melting plastic.
"Sorry—" Will apologised, nervous smile on his lips in case he had genuinely upset Mike.
"It's not for a bad reason." Mike quickly interjected, shaking his head as he sunk down onto Will's chest once more, his nose happily returning to it's place, it's home. in the crook of Will's neck. "It just... makes me feel... weird. Good weird, but it still is a little too much."
Will hummed, going back to playing with Mike's hair, occasionally wrapping a strand or two around his fingers and letting them ravel and unravel.
"I get that."
"That's why you're the best."
Mike peered up at just the right moment to capture a glimpse of Will's embarrassed smile. That smile that he would always give on birthdays when Mike would get him a present no matter how small. That adorable, hesitation to accept something good for himself.
Mike brough his hands to plant on Will's chest, his fingertips kneading the fabric softly like a cat making biscuits on a blanket or pillow. Mike begrudgingly sat up once more, still resting on Will but he had enough space so he could poke his head up to look into Will's eyes instead of praying that he'd just time his reaction quick enough. Will quirked a brow, his hand sliding out Mike's hair to the nape of his neck, playing with the occasional curls there instead. "Yeah?" Will's voice softly mused, trying his hardest to keep the smile off his face. Mike could see the cracks form in that wall built, his own smile playing at his lips. Will was trying to act cool and confident.
"Can we kiss for a bit?" Mike asked in a huff, his eyes dipping and staying on Will's lips. He'd always call those his home first, and his family house his home second.
"How many times do I need to tell you you don't need to ask." Will teased in a small giggle, but he leaned up until they were a few centimetres apart. Close enough that Mike could practically taste the tobacco and fresh-mint gum. And that ridiculously sweet, sugary and addictive taste of Will. Mike didn't take any longer until he was pushing through, his lips happy to rest on Will's, his body felt like it was in a compressor, falling in on itself as every part of him tried to rush to Will's lips. No matter how many times Mike messed up, Will was there to still call him his.
Will sighed into the kiss, his other hand sliding up Mike's spine and finishing on his cheek, cupping his jaw, his thumb running along the sharp edge of Mike's cheekbone. Will tilted his head to the left whilst Mike tilted to the right, pushing down into Will more: his hands climbing Will's chest to his shoulders, his arms crossing behind Will's head and his crossed forearms were free to rest on the armrest.
Will parted their lips, taking in a deep breath through his mouth, eyes still closed. Mike's fluttered closed again, using this opportunity to re-join their lips once more, taking advantage of Will's open mouth so he could coyly slide his tongue inside. Will fought back, soft "mhmm"'s being shared into each others mouths as their intertwined breathing gave them a foggy and blurry head.
Just like Mike had suspected, no, knew, Will tasted like a cigarette. A sweet, honey coated and minty cigarette. The bitter taste clashed and mixed surprisingly well... but Mike was still going to talk to Will about perhaps smoking less... powerful cigarettes. It wasn't like he was complaining, God no, he'd gladly taste this for the rest of his life if given the chance.
They separated once more, flushed cheeks and burning lungs intertwining them once more. Will was the one to surge back in this time, licking into Mike's mouth softly and sweetly, the hand on the nape of Mike's neck was back in Mike's hair (much to Mike's delight). Mike moaned as Will tugged on his hair. That was enough pressure. He could feel the dull feeling of the stress his hair was under but none of the sting or unbearable pins and needles tingle.
Mike was malleable under Will's hands, his body like dead weight that Will had to hoist up if he wanted to keep Mike stable. Will tugged once again, but he accompanied it with a small pull of Mike forward, making the tug even more noticeable. Mike was a goner, he wasn't going to be able to breath, his lungs already burnt from lack of oxygen whilst his eyes were stinging with the hazy feeling he had.
Thankfully, Will remembered Mike didn't have as much stamina as him, and let him free. Mike slumped forward, his shoulders knocking with Will's, chest-to-chest, heart-to-heart. The repetitive and safe beat of Will's heart was different to Mike's rapid, treadmill like pace. He could feel the blood pump over the fabric of their t-shirts, and it made him take in a shaky breath otherwise he was going to start sobbing. He didn't even know why he would start sobbing, he just knew he definitely would. One hundred percent chance he would.
"...You're gonna have to work on how long you can hold your breath, Mike..."
"Hey— I-It's not fair. You— you have more stamina than me and I- I don't taste like— you. I just want more of you so— I don't... stop—" *Mike had to break up his sentence with pants and exhales, trying to calm his heart.*
"Jesus Christ—" *Mike whined out, his forehead falling on Will's shoulder as Will chortled at his boyfriend's ridiculousness. Will patted Mike on the back of his head softly, pulling him back into their laying down cuddle position.
This wasn't the last time they'd do this, oh no, whatever didn't kill Mike just made him want Will more; death by kissing your handsome boyfriend to passionately seemed like a good way to go, he'd have to get that engraved on his tombstone. Again, Mike should really start writing his ideas down.