Work Text:
“Will hurry up!” Mike yells from the door.
“I’m coming, I’m coming jeez,” Will mutters as he hurriedly throws on his winter coat.
The two are going out tonight to a New Year’s Eve party hosted by their friends; a pretty normal way for them to end their year.
Even as they’re heading out, Will can already picture his friends' usual antics on New Years Eve.
There would be Dustin and El (who got surprisingly loud when she was drunk) being way too goofy and hammered for their own good, while Steve would watch them in amusement. Max would be on the karaoke machine with Lucas watching her like the sun shone out of her ass. Robin and Vickie would probably be in a room somewhere, doing stuff that was really not PG. There would also be some other familiar faces that would be invited— maybe the old hellfire club members Eddie, Gareth and Jeff. They all really livened up the party. Nancy and Jonathan would probably make their appearance too and chill around with them for a while.
And as for Mike and Will, well...
2 years ago on New Year’s Eve they might have been seen sitting together, talking and laughing as best friends since childhood.
On the contrary, 1 year ago on New Year’s Eve, they were doing as much as they could to avoid sitting next to each other.
This was due to the culmination of pent up and unspoken feelings, throwing their carefully maintained friendship all these years completely off balance.
But despite the awkward start of that night, it ended with the most amazing New Year’s kiss Will could dream of— the kind that set off fireworks in his mind, even though it was such an innocent and chaste kiss. After the kiss, Will couldn't hold back from pouring out his feelings, and Mike stood there awestruck, as if it was so surprising that Will liked him back. (Seriously, how could Mike not know?). It was that unforgettable New Years Eve when Mike and Will were 22, that marked the start of their relationship as a couple.
And gradually, before they knew it, the seasons changed and looped right back around, and now it was New Years Eve once again.
“I’m excited to see the house after all the pictures Robin spammed in the group chat,” Mike says with a grin, glancing at him over the driver’s console.
Tonight is extra special, because unlike previous years where the party would be hosted at one of their little apartments, they’re currently driving out 3 hours to another city, to a new house that Robin and Vickie recently bought.
Will nods and hums contently, glancing out into the darkness from the passenger seat window. They’re driving through forested area as a soft song faintly plays in the background.
This time of year brings about so many thoughts and feelings in Will. It makes him reminisce on everything that had happened last New Year’s, and basically everything prior that led up to it.
Last year’s winter break was a whirlwind, and although it had its many crashing lows, looking back on it now— it was all worth it. Because if not for everything that had happened, Will wouldn’t be having his one year anniversary with Mike tonight, in about 7 hours to be precise.
This year’s winter break had been much calmer and quieter— filled with frequent cuddle sessions where they just sat and talked for hours, catching up on all the time in the semester they had spent busy with schoolwork, having late movie nights, and morning sex. Will loved every second of it.
“What’s on your mind? You’re so quiet,” Mike says after a couple minutes of silence, taking one hand off the wheel to place over Will’s left hand.
Will glances at him, snapping out his thoughts and gently smiles when Mike laces their fingers together.
“Just thinking,” he says. “Last year New Year’s Eve was a lot different.”
“Yeah,” Mike chuckles, “Robin and Vickie didn’t have this house.”
“We weren’t together,” Will says, voice barely above a whisper.
“That too,” Mike says, getting a far away look in his eyes like he’s remembering that time too now. “It’s surprising,” he adds.
“Us being together?”
“Sort of,” Mike says. “I just remember how our relationship was at an all time low at that point. How did it even work out?” He laughs softly, shaking his head in disbelief.
“I guess we just stopped being scared. Took us long enough.”
“Yeah,” Mike mumbles, his smile being replaced with a frown.
Will looks at his change in expression questioningly. “What’s wrong?” he asks.
“Sorry,” Mike shakes his head. “Talking about this is making me remember how much I hurt you back then.”
“It’s okay Mike,” he says softly.
“Still,” Mike sighs as he drives. “You liked me for so long. And I didn’t even know. When you told me for how long, I felt so bad. The amount of dates of mine that you met, that I asked for your fucking advice on... You just took all that silently, despite it hurting?”
“Mike, it wasn’t your fault that I hid my feelings like that.”
“For 10 goddamn years. And I couldn’t even tell... I should’ve been able to.”
“No,” Will whispers with a shake of his head. “I had gotten so good at hiding it. Don’t blame yourself.”
“Still. I wish I knew. I only realized I liked you after... you know,” Mike pulls his hand away to make a flapping motion for emphasis, “ that whole mess. I was being a dramatic jealous little bitch when you were silently hiding your hurt feelings all these years.”
“Well I’m glad you were a dramatic jealous bitch about it,” Will says with a soft laugh. “Otherwise... we might not even be together.”
“I guess you're right.”
Will’s smile grows wider, and he gives Mike’s fingers a reassuring squeeze.
About 1 year ago
It was at the start of winter break.
“Mike, why are you being like this?!” Will snapped, grabbing Mike’s wrist to keep him from walking away.
Mike spun around, lips curled into a deep frown.
“Being like what?” he demanded, voice loud but steady and his face set in hard lines.
They were outside in the parking lot of a bowling alley to celebrate finals being over and break being here, and their friends were inside.
“You’ve been ignoring me the whole night! And then when I try to talk to you, you leave?” Will tried to keep his voice as sharp as possible, but a subtle wobble in his words snuck back in at the last second.
“Maybe because I don’t want to talk to you,” Mike snapped in response. “Ever thought about that?”
Will stilled as the hint of tears slowly but surely began welling up in his eyes. After a solid month of this issue with Mike chipping away at him, he couldn’t hide the hurt any longer.
Mike’s face instantly fell at that sight, but he didn’t take back the words or apologize.
Will blinked hard a couple times, willing the tears away before he let out a watery and deprecating laugh.
“So is that it? You don’t want me as your friend anymore? Because it’s not just that you’ve been ignoring me this whole night... you’ve been ignoring me for the past month! And I don’t even know why! Tell me what’s wrong because I just want my best friend back. But I guess he doesn’t want the same thing.”
Silence filled the air for a couple seconds, until Mike quietly said, “Yeah. I guess I don’t.”
And that really did it.
Those words placed the nail in the coffin, and tears silently slipped out of Will’s eyes to greet the dark and cold night air. Snowflakes had started falling now, but Will couldn’t notice them behind his glassy eyes.
“And, you didn’t do anything wrong,” Mike said, a wounded look coming over his face now— as though seeing Will cry like this, because of him, pained him. “It’s my fault. It’s all my fault.”
“Oh so you’re gonna pull the ‘it’s not you, it’s me?’ card now? Are you fucking kidding me?” Will choked out, trying to keep his voice steady and failing.
“That’s the truth though!” Mike blurted out. “I- I’m sorry. Ever since you started dating Lucas, I don’t know what’s wrong with me. Or maybe I do and I didn’t want to admit that and—”
“W-wait, what does Lucas have to do with any of this?!” Will’s hurt and anger slowly transformed into confusion.
Now that he recalled, Mike did start acting like this after Lucas and him started dating.
Oh.
“I’m sorry,” Mike said again, voice a mixture of guilt and pain. “I can’t stand it. Every time I see you with him it h-hurt. And I just felt so—”
“So you thought the best thing to do was to avoid me, and make me feel like I ruined everything, or did something to make you hate me?” Will bit out, words harsh. The tear stains on his face were icy, but he was too upset to notice.
“I know I shouldn’t have done that,” Mike said, voice hushed. “I just... I was so confused with what I felt. We’ve been friends for so long, and I was jealous for reasons I couldn’t even understand, and I was afraid that if I approached you, the truth would come out and ruin everything.”
“Ruin everything, you say,” Will let out a bitter laugh. “I feel like you already did that, didn’t you?”
Silence stretched between them and Mike couldn’t meet Will’s eyes, opting to stare at the ground that was being littered with snowflakes.
When the silence seemed to get too much, Will found his voice again. “It was my first time you know? It was my first time being in a relationship with someone,” he said, voice gradually getting louder and harsher. “I finally let myself be with something for once. So why... why couldn’t you just, I dunno, let me have this?!”
“I was being selfish, I know,” Mike whispered, still staring at the pavement.
More tears slipped down Will's cheeks. “Yeah, whatever,” he said, and brought his coat sleeves up to furiously wipe his face.
Mike couldn’t bring himself to say anything more, and Will’s expression seemed to only grow more wounded at the silence. With one last heavy look at him, Will turned around and began to walk away.
He was a couple meters away when he suddenly stopped. Without turning back to look back, he said, “By the way, if you weren’t being such a shitty friend, you’d know that Lucas and I broke up two days ago.”
And with that, he walked to his car, started the engine, and drove away, leaving Mike in the snowy parking lot to soak in how much he’d ruined that night.
“Hey, you guys are finally here!” Robin grins as she opens the door.
She quickly takes their coats, putting them in the nearest closet before pulling both of them into a hug. A couple seconds later Vickie comes by to do the same.
Ever since Vickie got this big promotion at the book publishing company she worked at, and the two moved away, it had been a while since Will and Mike had seen the couple.
“Here I’ll show you to your room so you guys can put your bags away,” Robin says, ushering them through a hallway from the living room and rounding some corners to lead to a spacious bedroom. It was nice and clean with white walls, a beautiful flower patterned duvet on the bed, and a shiny new black dresser and shelf. There was an attached bathroom too with a walk in shower with a sliding glass door.
“Wow,” Mike whistles, impressed. “This is a guest bedroom?”
Robin shakes her head with a chuckle. “Yeah I know it’s extra. Honestly I don’t know why Vickie wanted such a giant house but well... it’s not like we can’t afford it now.”
“Show off,” Mike says.
Robin just laughs at that, throwing an arm around Will and leading them out of the room. “I can give you guys a tour of the house later.”
“That’d be nice,” Will nods and smiles at Robin, who returns the smile and ruffles his hair affectionately. Robin always seemed to have a soft spot for him, and it was her that actually gave Will advice about his relationship with Mike after their fight during winter break last year.
When they get back to the living room, the first thing that happens is Dustin and Lucas (who are both already drunk) tackle Mike and Will into a hug like they didn’t only see each other a week or two ago. The others are also already there drinking and laughing, and there are a lot more unfamiliar faces which Will guesses are new friends from Robin and Vickie’s work.
The rest of the night goes by in a blur and Will spends most of his time with Lucas and Dustin as they drunkenly argue about what will happen in the upcoming season of The Boys.
Mike on the other hand is a lot more social, interacting with Vickie’s co-workers and Will can’t help but watch him from across the room, drink in one hand and arms waving about animatedly with the other as he talks with them.
And Will’s heart simply swells at the sight. Mike looks so handsome and perfect, laughing loudly with his long tousled black hair, and button up shirt that makes his arms and chest more apparent ever since he started working out.
Maybe it’s the alcohol talking but Will kind of wants to go up to Mike right then and there and pull him into a deep kiss. Of course he doesn’t do that, but what is he supposed to think when his boyfriend looks so damn handsome and irresistible at the same time?
Mike seems to notice him staring because he tilts his head endearingly and looks at Will so incredibly fondly. It’s been 364 days of them being boyfriends (soon to be the full 365 days) and Will still feels this way when Mike looks at him with that soft smile and those affectionate twinkling brown eyes. And he doesn’t want to ever stop feeling this way.
“Oh my god stop eye fucking. You two are so sappy and gross,” Dustin groans, clearly having noticed them staring at each other.
Lucas puts an arm around Will and leans closely into him, slurring out, “Let him live Dustin, the man is in love.”
Mike’s eyes flicker from Will’s face to a drunk Lucas that currently has an arm slung around him, and his fond smile wavers for a fraction of a second, to which Will can’t help but snort.
Since last year, Mike never totally stopped being a bit jealous when it came to Lucas. He wasn’t super possessive or anything about it, but Will could always catch Mike's eyes narrowing ever so slightly, or the frown of his lips when the three were in the same room and Lucas was being his typical friendly self with Will.
And Will kind of understood. Lucas was technically his ex, but it definitely didn’t feel like it to him. They dated for only a month, and they didn’t break up on bad terms or anything like that. They were both in love with different people and they knew it. Lucas had recently broken up with Max, but clearly wasn’t over her— meanwhile, Will was still hopelessly pining after Mike. In a way, they sort of forced a relationship to feel less heartbroken and lonely, and after a month, they realized they couldn’t keep doing it. They were just better off as friends, and being in a relationship honestly made them weird around each other.
Will adored Lucas, and he was pretty sure the other wholeheartedly reciprocated the feeling... but as far as the both of them were concerned, they had just confused what their relationship should be for a tiny period of time.
And considering the fact that Will had a crush on Mike for 10 fucking years (that Lucas was fully aware of), that definitely clouded his judgment, thinking that dating Lucas was a great idea and that it would force him into believing that he was totally over Mike. Talk about bad decisions all around.
Of course said bad decision kind of brought Mike and him together in the end—which was great. But it didn’t change the fact that it was a bad decision.
Mike eventually pouts and looks away, to which Will chuckles in amusement as Lucas leans against him (drunk Lucas was just clingy, so there was no stopping him here).
“Hey Will, you want to help me grab some food from the garage?” Robin eventually comes by to ask him.
“Yeah sure!” Will responds brightly, prying Lucas off of him, who then goes on to cling to a grumbling Dustin instead.
“So, how are you and Mike doing?” Robin asks him when they’re in the garage.
Robin was the one that encouraged Will to admit his feelings to Mike that night on New Years Eve.
“We’re doing good,” Will smiles. “I got a good internship in the city at this art museum, and Mike’s studying hard too.”
“I’m glad,” Robin grins. I know you guys had a rough start and all, but I’m glad everything ended well.”
He chuckles, “Yeah me too.”
“Seriously, how did you two manage to patch things up on New Year’s Eve after fighting for a whole month?”
Will smiles to himself, “Some stuff happened on Christmas day actually that helped.”
“Oh really?”
“Yeah... New Year’s Eve was kind of like the aftermath of everything?” Will says. “It was really awkward until I decided to tell him how I felt. Because of you actually... So thank you.”
Robin pats his back and smiles. “Of course, any time Will. I’m just glad you two are happy together now.”
About 1 year ago
It was an understatement to say Will was surprised to see Mike standing outside his apartment on Christmas day, wearing ripped jeans and a dark coat, a red and green striped gift bag in hand. After everything that had happened, this was the last visitor he was expecting when he heard the knock on his apartment door.
They silently stared at each other for a couple seconds, before Will broke the silence.
“W-what are you doing here Mike?”
“I just... I wanted to say some stuff to you. And I finally gathered up the courage to do it today.”
Will stared at Mike whose eyes remained downcast for some time, like he was thinking and gathering his words. So he pressed his lips together and waited.
“First of all, I’m so sorry,” Mike finally said after some moment of silence. “I didn’t mean to hurt you so much but I really did. I was being selfish, only thinking about myself. Mainly because I was... I was so confused. I didn’t understand why I felt the way I did when you and Lucas started dating. And then when I finally did realize my feelings, it scared me. Because we’d been best friends since forever, and I was so immature and stupid, thinking if I just avoided you or shut you out, my feelings would go away, and then I could finally be happy for you and Lucas. But you know what? I realized these feelings aren’t going anywhere right now.”
Will stared at Mike in stunned silence. The boy he had liked for so damn long, was actually returning his feelings?
“What I’m saying is...” Mike sucked in a breath. “I like you Will. I like you a lot. Maybe I’ve liked you for a long time now and I just didn’t realize or recognize it until you were with someone else. Which is stupid of me, I know. And I know you said you want your best friend back, so I’m sorry for dropping this on you. It’ll take a while for me to get rid of these feelings. But when I do, I promise I’ll be a better friend to you.”
There was a short pause before Will whispered, “You want to get rid of your feelings for me?” Out of everything Mike just said to him, that was all he could focus on.
“W-well y-yeah...” Mike stammered, looking a bit confused now. “Isn’t that what you want? For us to be friends again?”
“I...” Will sighed.
This all felt like a dream. But he was still scared. Mike dating other people, not showing interest in him all these years wasn’t the only reason he’d held himself back from ever revealing his true feelings. That was just the excuse he’d used to convince himself. Saying he didn’t want to face rejection. But now that Mike was saying that he too liked Will, romantically, the real reason that was holding Will back became more apparent.
He was scared of ruining their friendship. That’s all it was. Because if they started dating, he knew there’d be no return, no going back. He’d lose his friendship with Mike and that thought terrified him. He’d rather stay friends with Mike and be hurt seeing him with other people for the rest of his life, than risk losing Mike altogether.
“I- I don’t know. I just need time ok?” Will said at last, voice quiet and tremulous. “So please just give me some space... and...”
“O-Ok,” Mike stammered out, still looking confused. “Thank you for um, listening to me, and uh... this is for you.”
Mike held out the gift bag he had in his hand that Will had forgotten about over the course of this conversation. Will's eyes widened.
"But I- I didn't get anything for-"
"It's okay," Mike said softly. "Please just take it. It's my apology."
Will hesitantly took the bag.
"It's that set of watercolour paints I remember you kept looking at through the display, whenever we went by the art store," Mike told him before he could look inside.
Will's eyes widened. Those cost so much last time he checked.
"Thank you," he whispered, his heart beating loud in ears as Mike looked at him with unfiltered, unmistakable longing.
"You're welcome. Merry Christmas Will."
"Merry Christmas."
Will weakly smiled, countless of feelings stirring in his stomach as he waved bye to Mike.
“There you are,” Mike frowns standing in hallway that leads to the garage.
Will is carrying a pack of drinks with Robin behind him carrying two trays wrapped in aluminium, which Will surmises must be food.
“Just set the drinks on the living room table ok?” Robin smiles, giving his shoulder a quick squeeze before she walks past, leaving Mike and Will alone.
“Why do you keep hanging out with others instead of me huh?” Mike says with a pout, though there's a teasing glint in his eyes.
“You’re doing the same thing,” Will giggles, when Mike steps into his space and wraps his arms around his waist.
Will sets the drinks to the side and Mike tilts his head forward nudging their noses together. He smells like cologne and a bit of alcohol, and there’s a glazed over look in his eyes.
Will quickly leans back before Mike can do anything else, which only gets him jutting his lips out into a pout.
“I want a kiss,” he says.
“Not 'till midnight Mike.”
Mike whines at that. “Wanna kiss you now though.”
“Be patient,” Will grins, amused by how upset his boyfriend looks. “Only like 15 minutes left.”
“I hate this rule,” Mike frowns, hiding his face in Will’s shoulder.
“Hey,” Will laughs, “if it weren’t for midnight kisses, we might’ve never had our first kiss last New Year’s Eve.”
Mike chuckles, probably thinking back on that night too. “Yeah. You were so awkward around me that night. Wouldn’t even sit beside me most of the time... I was so scared that you hated me, and that I’d ruined everything.”
“I was scared,” Will says, voice barely above a whisper. “But then I couldn’t stop sneaking glances at you, and knowing that you liked me? I wanted you so bad I forgot about all my fears.”
It’s silent for a couple seconds after that and Will almost pulls away wondering why Mike isn’t saying anything.
But then the arms around his waist suddenly tighten and Mike is pulling Will even closer to him. “Don’t say stuff like that right now,” Mike mumbles into his shoulder. “Makes me want to kiss you 'till your lips are red and puffy.”
Will’s face heats up at that, something coiling in his stomach as he takes in Mike's scent that's wrapped around him. “Later,” he whispers.
They head back to the living room together and this time Mike sticks to Will, wrapping his arms around Will from behind and pulling him against his chest.
They’re watching a shot for shot game between El and Max when Dustin comes barreling in, screeching “COUNTDOWN TIME!!!”, which gets them all cheering.
There’s a minute left until midnight and so they turn on the ball drop live on the TV.
At 10 they all begin counting.
“10, 9, 8...”
Mike nuzzles his nose into Will’s hair and Will giggles losing track of the numbers momentarily.
“...3... 2... 1! Happy New Years!”
Confetti and noisemakers that Will didn’t even know the others had are suddenly being blown and everyone is cheering, saying happy new years to one another.
Mike spins him around, arms still wrapped around waist, and Will looks up at him.
“Happy New Years Will,” he says quietly, before leaning in to kiss him.
The kiss is sweet and gentle, and when Will pulls back he sees how Mike’s eyes look slightly hazy, and his lips are pulled into a lazy smile. Mike looks a little like he’s in love, and Will’s pretty damn sure he’s wearing the same look himself.
“Happy New Years to you too,” Will says, before pulling him into another kiss, this time slightly deeper. Mike’s lips taste like a mixture of barley and something sweet and irresistible, and Will kind of wants more, but he stops himself, pulling away with a sheepish smile and reddened cheeks. “Later ok,” he murmurs leaning up peck Mike’s cheeks before stepping back.
Many more hugs and New Years greetings are given around, and he’s just glad to have all these people in his life, in this very room.
He couldn't have asked for a better night.
When many of the guests have left and Will and Mike have helped clean up a little, Mike brings him into their room.
“I have something for you,” Mike says, reaching into his bag and hiding whatever it is behind his back as Will sits on the edge of the bed, staring at him curiously.
“I’m actually kind of nervous to give this to you,” Mike chuckles nervously standing up in front of him, hands still behind his back.
Will smiles at him gently, in a way he hopes is encouraging.
“You don’t need to be. It’s just me.”
Mike steps closer, putting his hands out now. He’s holding a tiny opened up velvet box. Inside sits two small circular silver bands.
“They’re rings,” Mike hurriedly says, like he’s nervous Will won’t like them. “I-It’s our one year anniversary today, so I got these for us. They’re personalized too! Like on the inside, our initials are carved. So like, I’ll wear the one that reads W-B and you can have M-W. Um, unless you want to wear the one with your own initials. Yeah um, that’d be cool too, uh—“
Mike’s words come to a halt when Will pulls him down by the neck.
“Stop talking, I love it.” Will says in a hushed voice. And then he’s kissing Mike.
It’s nothing like their kiss after the countdown. This one is deep and languid and has Mike moaning into his mouth. The sound sends a shudder through him and he pulls Mike further onto the bed.
When the need for air gets too much, they both pull away and their chests move in sync. Mike takes Will by the waist and pulls him up onto his lap.
In a matter of seconds, he swiftly removes Will’s shirt and begins sucking kisses into his neck, biting and leaving marks as he trails further down. Will takes the opportunity to hastily tug apart Mike’s shirt buttons and push it off of his shoulders so that it lays rumpled on the floor, forgotten.
Mike leans back for a beat so that their gazes lock, and Will feels almost breathless from how Mike is looking at him.
"I can't wait to spend many more years with you," he says, leaning in for another kiss.
And as Will lets himself fall back onto the mattress with Mike falling forward with him, Will whispers out, "I can't wait too."