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"Bring that box in here!"
Joyce directed Hopper as they both assisted with carrying the last of Mike and Will's belongings into their new apartment. Will carried a stack of boxes himself, making his way past them to the bedroom. He set them down, looking around at the empty walls.
Their own place. Their new home, for however long.
He smiled, turning to address his mom and stepdad in the hall. "Thanks for all the help, that should be the last of it. We can get the rest settled in."
Joyce looked at him proudly, smiling that warm and loving smile she wore so frequently nowadays. "Okay sweetie, we'll get out of your hair and let you unpack, then."
Will crossed over to her for a hug, smiling gratefully. "Thanks for the help, love you."
"I love you too, Will. Good luck." She held tight for a moment, then withdrew to ruffle his hair. Her eyes were misty, but she held it with a glow of pride. "We're here for you two, call anytime you need. I mean it. That means you too, Mike."
Jim and Joyce departed to head home across town and with that Will joined Mike in the living room, flopping onto the couch to join him as they stared at the work ahead.
"We're really here." Mike muttered, smiling in disbelief. "Just us."
Will set a hand on Mike's knee momentarily, throwing him a smile. "Just us."
Mike grinned playfully. "Now we can achieve our master plan- playing games together forever. If only we didn't have to also work sometimes."
"So close yet so far." Will chuckled, moving to stand back up. "Let's at least get some of this unpacked before we're tempted to get lazy."
Mike followed, sighing. "Ok, let's get it done."
"I call dibs on walls." Will made a beeline for the boxes with their posters and paintings.
"Can't argue with that, we both know you have a better eye." Mike moved to unpack assorted kitchen containers, flicking on the radio that sat on the counter as he walked by it.
Will set to hanging up their favorites in the bedroom, various movie and music posters arranged together across the walls to make the space truly their own. Nothing would make it feel like their home faster; a map of Middle Earth above the bed, a dozen horror and fantasy movie posters scattered about the walls, assorted tour posters and album art from countless musicians and bands- now it would look like it belongs to them.
Will smiled as he hung up his Jaws poster, thinking to himself how funny it was that he'd had it almost as long as they'd known one another. He then took extra care to locate and hang up Mike's favorite guitar, ensuring it held a worthy placement. He finished the last wall of their bedroom, taking a moment to stand with hands on his hips as he took it in.
Mike came in behind him, snaking both arms around his waist to nuzzle into the other's neck over his shoulder. Will nearly jumped, but laughed softly instead. "Jesus- snuck up on me."
"It looks nice. You're doing a great job." Mike looked around, a content smile resting on his lips.
"Really drives in that this is ours, doesn't it?" Will pondered, seeming a bit wistful.
Mike nodded. "We made it."
"We did." Will turned over his shoulder, kissing Mike's cheek briefly. "We made it, and we have a whole life ahead."
"Our life." Mike added, squeezing his arms tighter around Will ever so slightly.
Will shifted, rotating to face Mike.
"You okay?" Will asked, tipping Mike's jaw down to look at him closely. Mike nodded once more. "Mhm, thinking- nostalgic, even. Nothing bad, though. I'm honestly really happy, just processing a lot I think."
Will smiled softly, leaning his cheek against Mike's shoulder. "Kay, wanted to make sure."
Mike relaxed, leaning against Will comfortably. "We survived so much, y'know? But here we are. It's almost funny how simple it feels now after so many years of complicated supernatural mess. The mundane feels more alien than the actual aliens did. Just moving into an apartment and acting like any other young adults? So weird. I'm waiting for the catch."
Will chuckled, understanding very well what the other meant. "I definitely get that."
They returned to unpacking for a while, Will finished hanging up what wall decorations they had throughout the place, meanwhile Mike set about keeping himself busy with various items in different parts of the home. Eventually Will joined Mike unpacking the rest of the home, and with their meager domestic possessions, they managed to clear through unpacking in half the time it had taken to pack up in the first place. Night crept in, and with it they found themselves done.
That settled, they each grabbed a slice of pizza leftover from lunch and moved to lounge on the couch in their success. After eating, they broke in the new place by vegging on the couch with snacks and Legend of Zelda. Mike played as Will commentated and watched, shoveling Skittles into his mouth by the handful.
"When was it the other party members said they're coming again?" Mike prompted suddenly, pausing in his gameplay. Will blinked. "Lucas said next month on the 20th, they'll go home on the 1st. You excited to see them?" Will beamed, thinking of their friends.
"Of course! It's been too long. I miss those chuckleheads. Yes, even Max." Mike returned to playing, smiling as he wondered how it all would go. They could have so much fun here, all of them.
"Please. You act like you two have some rivalry but we all know you adore each other. You're practically the same person, as Lucas and I love to point out." Will snickered, rolling his eyes.
"Yeah, yeah- what can I say? We get each other, even when we don't."
Will gave him a baffled look, chuckling quietly. "Huh?"
"I am to Max as you are to El. I got a bonus sister." Mike explained concisely with a shrug. Will immediately burst out laughing. "What the fuck. Why is that so-? Objectively correct."
Mike giggled under his breath. "See? You can't say anything."
Will rolled his eyes again affectionately, leaning against Mike's shoulder.
After they'd grown bored and tired, they moved to lounge around in bed until sleep would take them, curled up close together as music played from the desk nearby. They laid on their sides face to face, both hardly an inch apart. Mike looked at the other for a moment, pausing to admire him. Will then glanced to meet his gaze, catching the tender expression on Mike's face.
Will softened instantly, leaning in to cup the other man's cheek for a long kiss. "You're staring again." He mumbled, sounding almost smug.
"Well stop being handsome if it bugs you so much." Mike quipped, laughing as Will looked at him with exasperated disbelief.
"The things you say- do you hear them?" Will teased, glancing at Mike's lips.
"Nah I stopped running anything by the filter a while ago. I just wing it and deal with the consequences. C'mon, get with the program." Mike joked, reciprocating the glance.
Without another word, they fell in together, closing that small gap between their lips. Both smiled fondly at one another, enjoying the playful atmosphere and the ease of their mutual comfort with each other. Mike moved to sit up, shifting to loom above as Will happily rolled onto his back, facing the ceiling.
They parted for a moment and Will looked up at Mike, appreciating the halo of dark hair that framed him from above. Mike pushed his hair out of the way, grinning. "What's that look about?"
"You're just…pretty." Will said simply, returning the smile with a loving tone. Mike's smile softened as he met Will for yet another kiss, both pulling one another in closer by whatever means as Mike hovered over the other in their bubble of affection.
Will ran both hands through Mike's hair habitually, and Mike merely stayed lingering above, enjoying every moment of lazy tenderness. They had no plans, no thoughts or intent- only the love for love's sake.
They parted for a break once more and Will took that moment of closeness to meet Mike's gaze with an unwavering smile of pure adoration. Mike's heart leapt, and he could only hope he wasn't visibly melting into a pile of goo. Without hesitation, Mike blurted.
"I can't wait to marry you someday."
The words slipped out before he could think, and he watched in a mixture of panic and awe as Will's eyes nigh-instantaneously sprang into mild tears. "W-what?"
Mike bit his lip, but doubled down despite being sincerely nervous. "You heard me- they'll fix it. I know it. We'll be able to act like anyone else. Call me crazy, but just you wait."
Will blinked back the tears, smiling with stunned endearment. Mike continued, growing quieter. "I couldn't see myself marrying anyone else, after all…"
Will seemed to be slammed with a wave of cute aggression and intense emotions as he peppered Mike's face with a flurry of tiny kisses.
"Maybe if we just pretend we're already married long enough they'll get the memo." He half joked, both showing his sincere joy and half-hiding in his humor.
"They'll have to listen eventually." Mike smiled, scrunching his face as Will repeatedly pecked him with more of the aforementioned kisses.
Will then paused, shaking his head gently in enamored disbelief. "How did I get here?" He asked rhetorically, thanking his stars that at least all the hell he'd paid had something to show for. "It still hits me sometimes. I used to think I was truly out of my mind for imagining us together. Look at us."
Mike beamed lovingly, laying his head down on Will's chest, he then shuffled closer as Will eagerly swaddled an arm around him. "Look at us, Will."
"...I love you." Will spoke softly, his lips holding the words like something delicate and so fragile. They often let it go unsaid and spoke in their actions, making the times it was conveyed in words all the more precious.
Mike turned to kiss the space above Will's heart symbolically as he lay conveniently close, his face stuck plastered in the same sappy smile. "I love you, too."
They ended up passing out as they were promptly after, only to awaken in the morning to knocking at the door. Will rose first, gently scooting himself out from under Mike's koala clinging to answer the door. "I'll be right back-" He whispered to the sleepy man below, smiling a moment at his dazed and dreamy expression as he slowly woke up behind Will.
He then answered the door, smiling brightly as he found El on the other side. She dove in for a hug, a wide, dimpled grin on her face. "Sorry I could not make it yesterday."
"It's fine! It's totally fine, El. Come on in!"
He led her to the couch, calling out enthusiastically. "Mike! It's El."
"Coming-! So tired." Mike replied, his voice groggy and fried. El laughed under her breath.
"Your own home! Are you excited?" El asked, seeming eager and proud. Will nodded. "Hell yeah we are, you moved out and I knew I had to follow soon."
"You're going to do great." She affirmed, her gaze firmly set on her brother. She radiated support, and Will was endlessly grateful for how gracefully she'd taken the absolute mess that was Mike's confession of truth those short years ago.
That he hadn't been able to love her beyond as a dear friend. The truth of his hidden love for Will, a devotion written into their hearts before Mike had even met El on that rainy November night. The same devotion that had placed him there to meet her in the first place. It had hurt of course, but long ago that hurt healed. They all acted like family still, and Will felt relief that he hadn't had to lose anyone in the fallout. Not Mike, not his new sister. They just made it work.
Mike joined them, rubbing his eyes and haphazardly smoothing out his bedhead. "Morning, El."
"Hello, Mike. Punctual as always I see." El replied, giving his disheveled appearance a teasing once-over.
Will snickered, sharing a tiny high-five with her. She then put the joke aside, smiling as Mike rolled his eyes and gave her a hug anyway. "Ok, I'm gonna go make some coffee."
"Get me some, will you?" Will asked, making his best invincible puppy eyes. Mike averted his gaze. It's too powerful. "Do you even need to ask? El, want some?" She shook her head. "No thank you."
El watched in amusement, exchanging a look with Will as Mike went into the kitchen. "...How do you do that?" She asked quietly, holding in low laughter. Will smirked, shrugging. "I don't even know. That's the funny part, he's just like that by default?"
El bit her lip, giggling softly under her breath. "So- I have news."
Will blinked, leaning forward with interest.
"Lucas and Max have decided to move here, we'll all be living together." She grinned. "Dustin is still only coming to visit, but Lucas and Max have changed their plans."
Will lit up, his posture perking up at the thought of Lucas being so close again. They'd always had their own special bond.
"Yes!!! Oh my god Mike did you hear that?"
Mike popped his head back in, grinning wildly. "No fucking way! I've missed them! Maybe Dustin will follow if we're lucky."
El maintained her smile, seeming overjoyed. "I have missed them so much."
"We're gonna have to show them around the area-! Unless Max has been here already." Will thought aloud, seeming thrilled.
With the news out of the way, the trio decided to make some breakfast together as none had eaten yet. Mike scrambled eggs meanwhile Will threw together some waffles, and we're not talking eggos. El was on standby, slicing strawberries and humming along to Cher on the radio.
With their meal ready and served, they each took a seat at the dining table and El gave the boys a funny look as Mike dumped syrup over the whole plate, eggs and all- then passed to Will only for him to do the same.
"You two really are made for each other." Was all she said, shaking her head with a laugh. It wasn't the first time she'd seen it, but it was still funny how in sync they always seemed to be.
"Try before you deny! Like the pineapple pizza, El." Mike snickered, teasing her as Will passed her the bottle.
"You know what? Sure." She laughed, dumping it over her plate as they had.
Will chuckled, eating with a relaxed demeanor as this unfolded. El took a bite, humming in approval. "Okay, totally understand now. It's like French toast without the bread."
Mike laughed fondly, pointing across the table with his fork. "Told you so."
After finishing breakfast, El gave each another hug before excusing herself, taking off to go do some sort of field research for her psychology schooling. Will found himself thoughtful, his mind lingering on how they'd all grown. The way they all reached for their dreams in the aftermath of such disaster only to find the dreams more plausible than they'd hoped.
The future truly was bright, and in that hope Will found himself realizing a security he'd never felt before in life. He'd found it. The way forward.
No more wishing for death, or lamenting life given, no more thoughts of being a mistake or a failure. He knew. He is not broken, and his love is whole. His strange family may not be the traditional sort, but they would always be his family nonetheless. He felt lucky for once in his cyclically cursed life, now understanding that it isn't fate or divine punishment that haunted him, but merely obstacle. Something to challenge, to fight, to come out ahead of.
They'd pushed back against the false dichotomy, the unnecessary rules and norms- they understood now how to take their future into their own hands, whether others would welcome this future with them or not. They knew the love, and they would keep it well, against all unfair odds and futile protest.