Chapter Text
Chapter one:
“ I- care for you” the words left Mikes mouth before he could think, “-so much.” El stood before him, frizzy hair and glossy eyes, waiting for him, waiting for him to give him something- anything. “But…” she started to say, “you don’t love me anymore?” Mike opened his mouth yet nothing came out. “Mike” El sighed as she calmly sat down next to him, “you need to think about what you really want.”
_______
Mike sat up with a jolt, feeling the soft bed squeak beneath him. His hands were shaking slightly as his breathing was rapid, gripping the covers. It took him a second for him to take in his surroundings. Light snuck in through the yellow window curtains in the room- Wills room.
He rubbed at his eyes, groggy and displaced in the middle of Will Byers room as the boy himself was still asleep. Mike slowly moved to face the sleeping boy, noticing the way Wills short brown hair was splayed on his light blue pillow, chest rising up and down slowly.
Mike couldnt pull his eyes away as he noticed every freckle and line on the boys face. The single image of Will fast asleep had enough impact to calm the shaking hands of Mike. He was mesmerized.
It had been a day after El had left, locked up and sent away to God knows where, leaving him and the rest of the Byers under house arrest. They had planned to leave in the early morning, hitching a ride with Jonathans friend, who always smelled a little funny to him.
The events of the other day lingered with him even while he slept that night. He remembered Els eyes and the desperation she displayed, the want and the need for her one boyfriend to say those three simple words.
He just couldn’t .
There was something wrong with him- no he knew there was something wrong with him. Why couldn’t he just say that thing to El to make her happy? Why couldnt Mike love El? Why couldn’t Mike look into her eyes without the thought of a certain brown haired boy nagging in the back of his mind?
His skin crawled at that thought.
Mike pulled his blanket off of him as his shirt clinged to his back. It wasn’t very hot in the room yet his thoughts were enough to make him sweat. This was the first time Mike and Will had shared a bed together since elementary. He was lucky the bed was big enough for the both of them, knowing if it was only a couple inches smaller he would be way to close for comfort. He imagined being pressed up against Will, his best friend of 10 years, listening softly to the way Wills breath slowed. Mikes heart ached as his eyes scanned the boy.
He believed maybe once Will had moved, those nauseating feelings would go away, he could hide them forever. The thoughts he had tried so hard to ignore, to keep locked away, but was yet again overcome by them the day he arrived at the airport.
The day he finally saw Will and those green eyes, the ones with a hint of brown in them. He always adored those eyes, though he would never admit that out loud. Especially to Will.
Mike hadn’t realized just how long he’d been staring at the boy until a voice interrupted.
“Hey” Wills voice surged through Mike startling him.
“Oh hey” suddenly Mike realized how creepy it must’ve been for Will to wake up to his best friend gawking at him. “Sorry” he mumbled.
Will stared at him blankly, “..for?”
“Oh uh I dont know actually” Mike said panic spreading quickly across his face. Will continued to stare, confusion and sleep still present in his expression. Mike took notice of the way Wills hair fell across his forehead and the way his grey t-shirt was bunched a little bit above his waistline. Mike felt a lump in his throat. He heard Will mumble something, maybe a question, but Mike couldn't pull his eyes away from the boy and his tan skin. A surge of worry took ahold of Mike, maybe even guilt. This was his best friend for Gods sake.
“Mike?” Will asked, pulling Mike out of this trance.
“Huh?”
“Oh I just asked if you were okay…?”
“W-what yeah yeah I’m fine sorry” Mike stumbled over his words, “just didn’t sleep well”
Will nodded without saying anything. Will understood, he always did. Mike sighed as he got out of the bed and made his way towards his duffel bag pulling out a blue sweater that he had packed. The room was ringing with silence other than the sounds of blankets and sheets ruffling.
“You guys will figure it out” Wills voice was quiet, yet filling the room with a tension that Mike didnt particularing enjoy.
“What?” Mike had asked without turning to face him. He pulled his sweater over his head.
“You and El. You guys will figure things out.” Will uttered finally sitting up in bed. “You always do”
Those words stung Mike in a way he couldn’t shake.
“I think this time was different” he mumbled softly he figured there was no way Will could’ve heard him. Mike finally turned to face the boy, locking eyes with him but quickly looking away. Mike knew the fight he and El had was one you didn’t come back from. Or maybe it was just El that he didn’t want to go back to. He couldn’t figure it out.
“Mike im sure its just another stupid fight, she’ll come around eventually.”
Mike felt his heart flutter at the way his name sounded on Wills tongue. He could listen to that all day. Mike had moved across the room again, beginning to pack up some of his things, dreading the long day ahead of them. He didn’t want to think about El anymore and the stupid fight they had. How could he when Will was sitting right in front of him with that longing stare in those green eyes?
When the room fell silent, Will followed up again.
“Look im sure-”
“Will just stop.” Mike shouted, a little too harshly. Will recoiled at the sound of Mikes aggressive tone.
Fuck .
He sighed as he dropped the pile of clothes he was holding. Regret poured over him like a cold bucket of water.
“I- sorry, I just don’t really want to talk about it right now.”
“Yeah. Sorry” Will slumped against the bedframe looking down at his fingers, picking and peeling at the skin on them. Oh how Mike just wanted to take them into his, feeling his skin beneath his own. Silence fell over them once again as light continued to pour into the room shining brightly on Will. Mike hated himself for the way he was still drawn to the way Wills features stood out in the light.
“We broke up” Mike had mumbled suddenly finally getting the courage to break the drowning silence.
He noticed from the corner of his eyes Will had perked up a little bit against the bed frame.
“Oh.. Mike” Will said looking up at Mike with empathy.
The way he said his fucking name and those eyes . Mike knew he was a goner. Will looked up to him searching for his face for some reaction, an answer as to why Mike would end his seemingly perfect relationship. Mike stayed quiet, eyes zoned out in front of him.
Will was the first to speak again. “Wha- I mean- you guys were totally fine before” he tripped over the words like a little kid on uneven pavement. “What happened?”
“You need to think about what you really want”
Els voice rang out in Mikes mind. Remembering her cloudy eyes and the way she looked at him with eagerness, maybe even sympathy. He couldn’t place it. He couldn’t say anything actually. He was stuck.
“Mike” El placed her hand on his, “Its okay.”
“I- I just couldn’t give her what she wanted.”
Mike slowly made his way to sit next to Will on the bed, noticing the concerning look Will gave him. Mike noticed the way Will continued to fidget with his hands. Something must have snapped in Mike, or at least gone a little hay wire in his brain as he felt himself reach out and grab Wills hand. It was subtle but prominent enough to make Wills breath hitch when he felt the contact.
“I- sorry I thought-” Mike spoke, hand still resting on Wills
“No- no you’re fine”
They stuttered over eachothers words looking everywhere but eachother until their eyes eventually wandered back to their hands resting on top of one another.
Mike felt the corner of his lips curl upwards, ignoring the ache he felt in his chest.
“Why do you do that so much?” Mike asked, regretting it instantly but eager to keep the topic off him and El.
“Do what?” Wills eyebrows scrunched up in confusion.
“Do your- you know- pick at your fingers so much.” God, Mike really just needed to shut up.
Will let out a slight laugh as he sighed looking down at his- well him and Mikes hands. He shrugged leaving Mike without an answer.
“I noticed you do that a lot- well not that I look a lot I-I just-” Stop talking. Stop talking. Stop talking. “You’ve done that ever since we were kids.” For fucks sake Mike.
Wills smile seemed to grow just the slightest bit at the mention of the both of them when they were kids. And if Mike knew any better he’d say Wills hand under his slowly shifted upwards, giving Mike better access in curling his fingers around Wills.
Morning light continued to pour into the room as the two of them sat there in silence, fingers curled around the others.
Will shifted slightly to face Mike, “Look- about El..”
“Its okay you really don’t have to say anything” Mike started, “I was stupid and honestly a horrible boyfriend. It-it was pretty mutual actually…”
Will didn’t say anything, just looked up at Mike with those stupid eyes, the ones he couldn’t resist. Mike believed he could stay in this moment forever without a care in the world. It only lasted a second as wills head turned to look at the floor, leaving Mike to stare at the boys side profile.
He was perfect.
“Will I-” Mike began to say but was interrupted with a loud banging knock at the door. Jonathans voice suddenly flooded the room leaving the two to quickly draw back their hands. Of course, Jonathan always had it out for Mike.
“Hey Will!” the older Byers brother shouted, “you two get ready Argyles gonna be here any minute.”
Mike mourned the spot that Will had occupied next to him as Will stood up to move across the room, packing his backpack. He noticed Will quickly shove some sort of rolled up canvas paper in the front pocket.
A loud sound of a car horn soon filled the room making Mike jump out of his seat. He marched over to where his packed bag was, heavy and clothes spilling out of it already. Wills back was turned to him as he pulled on a yellow flannel, hugging his shoulders perfectly.
“Looks like its up to us again.” He began to say, back still turned to Mike.
A soft chuckle left Mikes lips, “It always is, isnt it?”
Mike and Will. Will and Mike. Thats all they were. Ever since childhood everyone knew they were best friends. For some reason, this moment seemed to shift everything.