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there was nothing that compared to waking up to the sight of your significant other asleep in your bed. william, or “will” to those who knew him better, byers would soon discover this to be a fact, and a memory he would cherish for a lifetime.
the brunette sat up from his bed, a bit groggy as he peered through the window beside his bed. it was still dark outside, which gave the small indiana town, known as hawkins, a rather gloomy look. there was a small sound beside him that reminded him of his father snoring in the living room. he thought back to sneaking behind the couch so his dad- so lonnie wouldn’t notice him and spew words of anger at the smaller boy. will shook his head, shaking off the unpleasant memories that have accumulated throughout the years, and instead turned to face the unknown source of the sound.
mike.
remembering the things that had taken place the night prior, the gentle kisses, shimmying off pants, awkward dirty talk that led to excessive giggles, and the various professions of love made will’s face flush a deep red color. mike. how could he forget mike was asleep right beside him? will studied his face. his curly hair reaching around his nape; coming in different curl patterns, some a bit tighter and others looser, framing his face in a way that, in all honesty, made mike look a little dorky, but gave him a boyish look that he pulled off rather well. will wondered if he should bring up the idea of mike cutting his hair before it got too long. that would probably be a conversation for when mike actually opened his eyes. speaking of mike, will’s eyes shifted back down to the sleeping boy where his hand was balled into a loose fist right beside his head, and his long eyelashes made mike look ethereal even as he slept. his eyebrows were furrowed and his upper lip puffed out in a way that made will wonder what he was dreaming about, and just a bit selfishly, hoped mike was dreaming of him.
there were countless freckles scattered across mike’s face, some on his neck, and they ran down to his shoulders where there were a few scattered, purple-ish red marks on his pale skin. it took the brunette a second to register that mike didn’t have a shirt on, but when he did, his heart felt that it had skipped a beat to two. letting his eyes zone in on mike’s shoulders and upper back, will thought about how mike’s marks would have looked like his if he went to look in the mirror. there was a peaceful rhythm to mike’s breathing, like letting water run in the bath as you tried to relax. it was pleasant background noise and it made will’s heart ache. he really didn’t know what he did to deserve to be able to wake up to something as pure as this. will thought that if god were real, would this be his compensation for all of the hardships in his life.
will blinked twice; a confirmation that the sight that was unfolded in front of him was real. he longed to open his mouth and say something, anything to mike and wake him up, but no words formed in his head. so instead, he thought back to the warmth that was the night before. mike wasn’t always good with words, which will had definitely learned the hard way, but there weren’t many that needed to be exchanged last night, just the ones that mattered. still, before will could get too lost in his head he turned when he noticed there was a shift in mike’s movements.
mike was reaching out for will.
well, he tried to anyways. mike was very visibly sleeping and the movement felt jerky and clumsy, which tugged at will’s heartstrings. perhaps the curly headed boy was dreaming about him, after all. still, who was will to deny the boy of his dreams just a few more moments of happiness? there didn’t seem to be a smooth way of will laying back down without waking his lover, but it didn’t hurt to try. unfortunately for will, all the love he felt god had for him disappeared in that moment. his left hand slipped, prompting will to bump his head on his headboard and elbow mike.
“fuck,” will mumbled to himself, attempting to readjust his body to lie comfortably beside mike. if will was lucky, maybe mike’s dream was too interesting to wake up from.
“you kiss your mother with that mouth, byers?” came a voice. it was raspy and attractive in the way it made will’s stomach flutter, and whoever it came from, it was clear they needed water. will’s cheeks dusted a rosy color. it was mike. of course it was. and of course mike’s first thought after waking up would be to say something slick.
“shut up,” will groaned softly, “why don’t you go back to sleep?” the brunette tried to joke, but his voice hitched in a way that made it sound more like a whine.
there was a beat of silence between the pair for a minute or two and it left will wondering whether mike really did go to sleep or if he was thinking of a dumb comeback. “can’t believe you’d treat your own boyfriend like that, especially after everything we did yesterday. you couldn’t have forgotten about it that quickly, did you? i see how much you value our relationship, will.” mike spoke, seemingly deluded with sleep. ah, so the latter, will thought. mike may not have always been great with words, but he seemed to have an affinity for getting under will’s skin. yet, hearing mike refer to himself as his boyfriend made will feel warm inside the same way he’d read about in his books from time to time.
will let himself lay back down properly this time, turning to just stare at mike and the perfect slope of his nose and how his lips curled into a smile when he realized will was staring. will swore he could see a tinge of pink starting to stain mike’s cheeks and it made him happy knowing that he could do that to mike, too.
not before long, mike’s hand was on his cheek and he was leaning in to kiss will. his lips felt extraordinarily soft, in stark contrast to will’s bitten and chapped lips, which he had suddenly become acutely aware of. the kiss itself was slow, heartfelt, and melted will’s heart right through his body. still, mike pulled away and stared back at will.
“so, how’s that for a good morning?” mike asked with a cheeky smile on his face and will had never felt that mike could look as beautiful as he looks right now.
will deadpanned, “your breath stinks,” and he could see the smile on mike’s face drop as his lips contorted into a pout. will thought he looked cute.
the curly headed boy didn’t reply. his hand slowly slid down from will’s cheek down to his shoulder, finally deciding to perch it on the brunette’s waist. mike’s fingers meekly explored the warm skin of will’s torso and will let him. it was silent for what felt like an eternity. just mike’s fingers tapping against warm skin, seemingly trying to map out will’s body by touch alone. the brunette felt his eyes start to flutter shut as he relaxed into mike. if will could die as he was in the current moment, he knew he would die happy.
“you’re so warm,” mike said, mainly to himself, but it was enough to catch will’s attention.
“hm?” the boy replied, cracking one of his eyes open enough to see the smile that graced mike’s lips.
“you’re warm. it feels nice, i guess. i dunno,” mike spoke again. will noticed mike’s cheeks getting pinker and it made will also crack a smile. “you’re cute, wheeler.” it came out quieter than will intended, but he was sure mike heard him all the same.
will sat up, letting mike follow his movements, when the brunette cups mike’s face in his hands. the taller of the two doesn’t say anything, and moves his other hand to hold on to will’s waist.
it’s will who leans in first, this time, heart hammering in his ears before his lips are on mike’s again for the second time that morning. will’s wasn’t sure if his brain was playing tricks on him or if he could hear mike’s breath hitch just before their lips connected. just like before the kiss was slow, innocent, just electricity running through their bones and out of their fingertips, but somewhere in the heat of their lips, the kiss got heavier, forcing them to break for air for a brief moment.
mike’s breathing is louder than his is, uneven, too, and will knew it would be smarter to stop while they were ahead, but mike looks at will in a way that makes his heart hurt, and the shorter knew he would be mean to deny mike, so he leaned back in. there’s a small, strangled whimper that comes out of mike’s mouth that will swallows with ease. his heart hammered wildly in his chest and the brunette could feel mike’s hands start to stutter around his waist, holding on a little more desperately, as if will would disappear if he let him go. the shorter could feel mike trying to pull him closer all while mike’s mouth moved against his with something akin to desperation that made will’s head spin.
yet, will still does the cruelest things imaginable to mike and smiles into the kiss before pulling back, letting his glands drop from mike’s face.
“good morning, mike.” will says with all of the peace and tranquility he can possibly muster as if he didn’t just finish kissing the love of his life.
he watched as mike gingerly pressed his fingers to his own lips as if in shock that will would kiss him despite everything that had transpired between the two and when mike looked up at will, some of the blush on his cheeks, spread to his neck and shoulders. “you can’t just.. do that, will,” mike whines, and for a second, will’s brain short-circuits. it was truly the hottest thing ever to see mike whine like that, still the need to tease mike was stronger than his own desires.
“i don’t know what you’re talking about, mike. we’re just kissing,” will replies and though he tries to make himself sound serious, the big smile the brunette has on his face gives him away instantly.
“okay. sure you don’t, byers. i’m not the one semi-hard after kissing,” mike replies and it’s breezy and smug, and will wants to wipe the shit eating grin off mike’s face.
“i’m getting up and taking a shower,” will announces, moving away from mike. it prompts mike to laugh and turn to watch will walk towards the door.
“i’ll go with you. i need to get up anyway.” mike shifts in the background and will can only assume he’s rolling his ankle with the familiar crack of mike’s bones.
“you’re not showering with me, mike.” will rolls his eyes as if the thought doesn’t make him blush.
“get your head out of the gutter, byers. i’m brushing my teeth. weren’t you the one to tell me my breath stinks?”
will’s hand stutters on the doorknob before he twists it and walks out without acknowledging mike’s comment. he’s sure if he turned around mike would have a grin on his face that read ‘got him’ and the brunette was not in the mood to grant him that satisfaction. will wouldn’t admit it to mike, but he would to himself, that waking up next to mike was the best part of his day.