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Mike's whole body was glued to the ground from the impact of Vecna's shot.
Sprawled across the concrete his eyes fluttered open. Forcing him to watch as a horde of demogorgons stole the children they'd tried so valiantly to protect.
But from behind them stood two figures, or well — one floating figure.
Mike blinked to focus his vision. Realising the floating man was infact Will, and the one that was keeping him up was the grotesque embodiment of vines. Vecna himself.
His heart shot out his chest, he had Will. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
With all the might he had, he implanted his hands in the ground and shoved himself to stand. Though once his weight was being held up by his feet, they gave out under him instantly. Launching him into the front of a thankfully parked car.
His side crashed into the metal, making him wince.
Mike grasped his stomach, turning his attention to Will. Though now he was stood on his own to feet, Vecna had left him alive?
Thank fucking God.
His feet began moving before it registered, staggering towards the breathless man.
The ground beneath him suddenly made an awful noise that he was all to familiar with.
Red light flooded through the tearing gate in the ground, pressuring him backwards.
He had no weapons, his whole body felt like it would collapse at any given second, would he be able to get away?
No time to think. He wouldn't die like this. He couldn't.
Will and Holly weren't safe.
Stumbling back in hopes of reaching the military car behind him, he watched as the slimy teeth decorated beast growled at him. Without warning it instantaneously leaped at him. Shit.
Mike's back met with the cold metal, as he was about to try and dodge. The demogorgon haulted mid air, shivering in place.
Some of the excess drool splattered against the ground. Following it's trail, his eyes met with Will's entirely white ones. What the hell?
His hand was outstretched, keeping the beast at bay.
Holy shit.
Mike's whole embodiment was stationary in awe. His best friend had harnessed the powers that superbeings only could imagine tasting.
His best friend Will.
Holy fucking shit.
What snapped him out of his trance was Will's other arm shooting up, clearly holding another back. Though he couldn't spot any nearby. Had Will sensed another?
Wow.
The only thing that could of tore his eyes away from Will, though much to his dismay. Was the cracking of bones as the demogorgon's limbs were twisted in ways nothing should ever be.
The monster crumpled on the floor in an pile of scrawny skin, blood seeping onto the now finished battle field.
Will had stopped that. He'd just killed a demogorgon by himself. Something the entirety of the most trained distinguished military couldn't even fathom.
Mike's breath speed up, heaving out his widening beam. Oxygen actually entering his lungs for the first time in what felt like hours. Will had just done that. Everything came into focus, the fires behind him seemed to somehow flicker slowly in the dark sky air. Will's knees landing on the ground almost seemed comfortable with how gradual it was.
All the tension that had been building the past few days seemed to fade for just a few seconds. His heart matched their surroundings, everything was warm.
Instead of how Will usually reacted when the demogorgon's were being hurt, he didn't seem bothered at all. Dragging his hand across his face to remove blood from his nose.
His eyes seemed heavy, but other than that — he was okay.
His feet moved first, his brain didn't move with it.
Rushing straight at Will he wrapped his arms around his shoulders. Briefly crushing him to check if he was even real, before sitting back and staring into his eyes. The fire danced in them, the beautiful blend of strong honey sizzling on morning pancakes the pair both loved since they were kids.
Mike's hands kept a strong grip on Will's shoulders. He didn't even have to open his mouth to speak as his wide mouth smile was already there. "Holy shit Will. I told you you were magical!"
Will sheepishly grinned back at him, his dazzling cinnamon eyes glistening with excess tears.
Though Mike knew Will better than anyone. He was overwhelmed, but alive.
Launching himself back into Will's grasp. This time staying in his touch for longer, inhaling the same fancy bodywash he's insistent on buying.
Living with Will the past few months had truly saved their bond. Plus been the most fun he'd had in years.
Everything had been about the monsters, but when it was midnight and him and Will were up watching a comedy show crying their eyes out. Nothing else mattered.
He'd been so guilty for not paying any attention to Will in favor for El, but now that she's back. He was more happy to see Will, more himself with other boy around. Around El he was trapped in the cranky 14 year old version of himself when his hormones had just kicked in. Sure, he liked El at the time. But now their relationship seemed mostly platonic.
She was so busy with training, it was probably going to kill her before she even got to the battlefield.
He knew she needed to completely focus on that, and honestly, he didn't mind.
Will croaked out, "Are you okay?" His spare hand landing on Mike's waist.
Mike's eyebrows furrowed, "Am I okay? Are you okay?! You just killed an actual demogorgon and saved my life."
The way Mike was staring at him like he was the most precious thing in the world. He looked gorgeous. The fire surrounding them kissed Mike's skin, making his almost all encompassing black eyes have a sweet caramel layer.
The pair stared at eachother's twinkling eyes in relieved silence, just for a moment.
Taking in eachother's breaths. Grasps that held them together not loosening even a smidge.
Joyce's voice made Mike notice the breath he was holding in. The worry partially returned, settling like a familiar weight he'd forgotten what it was like to live without.
Looking over his shoulder. Joyce who was lying on her stomach, and pushing herself up from the blood splattered ground forced him up.
Carefully keeping his hands on Will, he wrapped the brunettes arm around his own shoulders. The arm on his waist never faltering.
When they reached Joyce she was already up and clinging to Will. "Will! Baby. Oh my god. I saw that, that was incredible!" His mom peeled her head back briefly and he'd seen how genuine she was. That was before she swiftly tucked herself back into his neck and sniffed — just like Mike had done.
The Byers held onto one of Mike's shoulders each. Carefully taking them back to the radio station.
———
After settling Joyce on the couch, Will had fallen asleep on the seat beside it. Leaving Mike alone with his thoughts. He was tucked against a random seat nearby, his eyes traveling over Will's sleeping form.
The spot of drool that was beginning to pool at the corner of his mouth coaxed a smile from Mike's lips.
He stayed like that for... he didn't really know. Simply staring at Will. He didn't particularly understand why he always had the urge to.
Especially over the last few months. Whenever he'd fallen asleep early during a show they were watching. Or if they were painting in the basement. His brain made sure to glance at Will more times than whatever he was meant to be doing. He didn't know why.
And another phenomenon was that whenever they got too close, Mike's palms would always sweat. Absolutely always — it was beginning to seriously piss him off.
Whenever Will giggled at something stupid he said, throwing his head back slightly made his own heart stop.
He faintly remembered feeling like this with El for the first while they'd met. But he didn't get why he would have the same heart stopping issue for his best friend?
The sound of the upstairs shelf being shoved interrupted his thoughts. Standing up as Lucas barged down the stairs, grumbling then his eyes lit up at the sight of the predominantly asleep group.
Mike rushed over to Lucas, "I'm glad you're okay." He surveyed the area around them. "Did he take the kids you had?"
Lucas sighed and pressed his palms against his eyes, "Yeah he did..." After a few beats of solemn his head shot up, suddenly looking much more lively. "Oh yeah the weirdest thing happened—"
Mike cut him off by furrowing his eyebrows. As if to ask if this would really top everything they've found out over the past few years.
Lucas half snorted then started again, "Yeah whatever, just listen. I was about to get torn apart by a demogorgon, like it was midair above my head. Then it just, stopped. Then all its limbs snapped in a oner."
Mike's proud smile spread wide across his face, making Lucas question, "What? Did Eleven do it?"
Shaking his head and glancing at Will whilst doing so, he explained, "It was Will.
The same thing happened to me and he'd just shot out an arm and stopped it." Things started clicking into place that when he'd lifted his other arm and head up, he was saving someone else. "Wait, where were you when it attacked?" Because wasn't he in the tunnel—
Lucas's eyes were wide and his mouth hung open, half breathing out his response. "In the tunnels."
Holy crap. Will had saved him from so far away. Significantly further than El could control her powers.
Will was more powerful than an actual superbeing. Superman seemed to be too weak of a title for his dear friend now.
Glancing back at Will, he allowed his eyes to sparkle with wonder. They were so gushing about this when he woke up.
Lucas finally snapped out of his own thoughts, looking between the sleeping brunette and Mike. "So... Will can kill the demogorgons. Right. Okay. That's like—"
Lucas was stumbling over his words and didn't even know what he was trying to say himself. He waved his hands around in shock, clearly trying to process.
"It's so amazing right?" Mike's eyes had travelled back to Will, who he know noticed had the tinest of smiles.
Leaving Lucas to his own devices he hovered over the sleeping man. "Are you awake Will?" He gently questioned, his hand stopping mid-air that was reaching for Will's hair before he'd even registered it.
Their eyes met like fire to coal, burning quietly for a moment.
Will sighed with a grin and stretched his arms above his head. "Mornin' Mike."
The black haired man tried to glare at him, but his toothy smile gave his real feelings away. "Wornin' Will."
The other man had been been insistent to say that phrase, 'Mornin' Mike.' With the same teasing tone every bloody morning. So he was combating it with Will's excuse being that the alliteration sounds pleasant.
The pair giggled and Mike pulled Will up from his seat, suddenly feeling the urge to not let go. "So Will, how about you tell Lucas how you saved his life from like 2 miles away."
Will hadn't even glanced away from Mike's shining smile yet until he actually pointed towards Lucas.
Stiffling a laugh Will started, "Well, I can see through the eyes of them... and I could control it, like I was a part of the hive mind."
"Wow." Lucas was still stunned, but he could atleast string a sentence together now. "So you're like a mini vecna?" Though his eyes didn't glisten when he said it, he didn't giggle and lean into Will's space. Not like Mike had done.
Picking at his nailbeds, he now noticed the lingering hand on his back from Mike. "Yeah— kinda. I guess."
The three of them stood in silence, absorbing the information for a few seconds before Lucas questioned, "So can you see out of Vecna's eyes? Or just the demogorgon's?"
Will hummed, "Only the demogorgon's, for now. I did speak to Vecna, but I don't think that means we're any more connected all of a sudden."
Lucas's mouth hung open even further. "You spoke to him? What did he say?"
Ah right. He now had to explain it was his fault that Holly had been taken. Because he couldn't be any stronger.
Breathing out a weak sigh, Will kept his attention on the ground. "He said that, once he'd taken me, it made him realise that kid's were the easiest targets, that they were weak... and the perfect vessels."
He was now heaving, keeping his weight up by holding onto his knees. Mike's hand rubbing circles in his back keeping him stable.
"Fuck. Vessels for what though?" Lucas stared around the room as if it was hiding the answers all along.
Will glanced back up at Mike, his raven eyes already staring at him with only concern. It made his chest shrivel.
Without thinking he rested his head against Mike's strong torso. Feeling his cotton shirt against his face, and the very distinct signature scent he carries. It couldn't be described since it wasn't a cologne. He simply had a strong smell, and it was so Mike.
Exhaling and pushing himself to stand, Will began to lift his head away.
Though Will was quickly caught back into Mike's embrace, this time both arms wrapped around him. It was like he could sense his guilt over Holly.
"It's not your fault Will. You were only 12 and stuck in the upside down, anyone would have been scared shitless."
Will felt a tear roll down his cheek and meet Mike's shoulder. "Thanks Mike." For a change he allowed his grip on the other man to tighten. Leaving no room for words left unsaid. He could never get away with anything around Mike. So he really didn't understand how he was still harboring his secret, crush.
A crash came from up the stairs, indicating someone else coming down.
The pair pulled apart, though Mike's hands stayed clamped onto his shoulders.
When they peeked up, they spotted Robin looking dazed and grabbing onto a nearby wall.
When Robin caught site of Will, her face lit up and she jumped on the railing. Zooming her way down to reach the couple.
She began gushing out, "Holy shit dudes. A whole ass demogorgon just got snapped apart right before it attacked me." She waved her hands in the air to show more thoroughly what she was talking about, "It was so fuckin' awesome."
Though she was predominantly looking at Will during her explanation. Mike didn't get why his chest and grip on Will tightened at that fact.
Robin seemed to notice it, clearly not as used to their extremely close bond as Lucas. She didn't grow up with them, she didn't get Will. He did.
Robin shot Will a look he couldn't quite read, to which Will smiled nervously. How close did they get the past few days for them to have secrets looks like him and Will had?
Well Will would probably want to explain his brilliant new powers to Robin himself. So he let go and headed over to Lucas, head hung low.
The first thing Robin asked when Mike walked away wasn't about the demogorgon. It was instead about him and Mike. Ofcourse she knew.
Will grumbled into his hand and subtly told her to keep her voice low. "Yes okay fine. It is him..." He leaned in and whispered even quieter, "Is it really that obvious?"
Robin cackled and half shook her head. "I just know the look Will." Which made his face contort. "But to be completely honest, I also know the look Vickie had." She turned her attention to Mike, who happened to already be looking at the pair from the other side of the room.
Robin chuckled and dramatically held her hand up to block what she was saying to Mike, if he was still trying to lip read. "I'm the one with a staring problem between me and Vickie. But you seem to have a two in one deal."
Will's heart felt like one of the military flame throwers had just torched him. She was the only person he knew who had any experience in this... field. And she thought Mike liked him back?
Will beamed so bright Robin thought it would leave her vision impaired. "I think you should talk to him about it, when you get the chance."
In response Will nodded wildly. But before he could say anything else, Mike returned back over and huffed out, "Joyce is waking up."
Will rushed over to her side, checking her temperature while her eyes started blinked open.
However Mike hung around Robin, inspecting her like she would give him answers.
Robin smiled at him strangely, like she was reading his mind. What was his mind even thinking?
His body's urge to be close to Will took over though, swiftly perching beside him on the coffee table next to Joyce.
Their knees bumped and Mike glanced up, but Will didn't. Though his lips quirked up.
He let the touch stay, no need to break it.
Joyce stirred and once she caught site of Will, chucked herself towards him, almost falling to the floor. "Oh I'm so glad you're okay. Will."
Mike and Joyce locked eyes over Will's shoulder, who immediately wrapped an arm around him. "And you too Mike. Thank you for getting us out of there. Will's so lucky to have you." She gripped the pair tightly and smiled into Will's shoulder. She needed this nightmare to end soon.
Robin leaned over the couch, "I'll try get the comms back up and running but I could use some help since Steve isn't here. Are you and Mike any good?" She stared right into Will's eyes, before Joyce poked her head between the two.
Joyce glared right into her soul. "Robin, I'm just letting you know now. If you take them on another wild goose chase it will be your last."
Even at 5'3 she could actually be scary, mama bears and their cubs.
Robin chuckled awkwardly. "I promise I won't, I do honestly just need help."
Joyce grunted and lied back down, feeling the thin pillow against her head trying to stop her constant worrying. She needed to trust him more.
She stared up at Will once he stood up, "No leaving the building without your jacket okay?"
Sighing he briefly hugged her, "Yes mom, promise."
Joyce instead turned her head to face Mike and smiled. "You take care of him for me Mike." The words left unsaid that she infact trusted him with her Will. That's a prestige no one else gets trusted with apart from maybe Hopper, and even then—
Robin's voice cut through his gloating thoughts, "Alright thanks guys, let's go!"
She sprinted up the stairs and shoved the shelf out the way again. You just never know who could come wandering in.
The trio headed to the storage room to grab things that the boys weren't yet made aware of.
However all Mike could focus on, was the way his chest curled with how Will giggled at Robin's jokes. They weren't even that funny.
Once they'd reached the packed room. Robin out loud realised that the boys would have no idea what to look for. So she sent them to the outhouse to check it was intact after the group of Demogorgons jumping out of it.
"Please do be careful though, your mom will kill me if she finds out." Robin grinned sheepishly and turned back to enter the seemingly overflowing room. Ofcourse Steve and her weren't organised.
Will shot her another one liner that made her cackle, and it made Mike want to launch his head into the nearest wall. Though he did notice Robin shoot him yet another cheeky stare he couldn't decode. What the hell was happening?
When they get far enough away. Mike can't help the grumble that followed his next sentence. "So you and Robin are close then?"
Will held the door open for him and bumbled beside him, their elbows brushing together. "Oh uh, yeah. We have more in common than I thought."
"Oh. Okay." Mike's gut felt like falling out his body. What could they possible have in common? He'd found someone new. He would totally ditch Mike, like he'd done for Eleven. Fuck.
He couldn't lose him.
Mike stopped and faced Will, getting the other man to stop aswell.
"You know how sorry I am about ditching you for El before don't you?" He pulled at the hem of his shirt and nervously glanced between Will's confused eyes.
"Uh yeah... Why mention that now? You know I forgive you for that Mike—." The moonlight was casting twinkling stars in his eyes. They were dripping with worry, what was going on?
The cold air nipped his skin, grounding him. "You won't do the same. Right?"
It took a few long seconds for Will to get what Mike meant, but when he did — he simply started giggling and trying to hide it behind his hand.
Mike's heart stopped, the sweet song ringing in his ears.
Though it was interrupted by Will clarifying, "What, like with Robin?"
Now making Mike feel a bit stupid, but could you blame him? They had secret looks and stopped talking when he came by they had some big secret.
Mike awkwardly glanced around the floor, his demeanour immediately giving away what Will suspected.
Will was astounded, how could he even think that for a second? "Are you stupid? you're Mike Wheeler!"
Will shoved his hand against his chest, still beaming at him. Yeah, Take that Robin.
He caught himself following the touch as it disappeared, almost crashing straight into Will. Mike's palms began welcoming the familiar sweat as Will affectionately smiled up at him. Staring at him with almost puppy dog eyes.
After a beat of silence Will's eyes focused on his lips, which were now curling into a nervous smile.
Mike rubbed his sleeve on his lower face. "Is there something on my mouth?"
Tell him when the time is right. Robin's voice rung through Will's mind.
All those unpleasant times they'd fought as kids, to now were they barely ever argued and were stuck to eachother's side constantly. They'd made it so far.
He would regret it for the rest of his life if this messed up their friendship.
The adrenaline coursing through his veins was the only reason a sentence left his mouth — as quiet as it was.
"I would never leave you Mike. I want to be by your side for the rest of my life."
Ofcourse this was the one time Mike didn't get what he meant immediately.
He stood mouth slightly agape, and Will could see the cogs that were slowly turning in his head get stuck.
Will took a step back to give him space, but Mike only followed, needing answers.
He was too deep in, Mike deserved to know. And most importantly, he wanted him to know.
Trying to shuffle out of range of Mike's hot breaths. He stared into his melted obsidian eyes whilst they dripped with care for him, possibly for the last time.
Will's voice came out as a whisper taken away by the frosty wind, "I like you Mike... More than like, I think I've always loved you." His eyes burrowed holes into the ground, not ready to watch the other man's face drop.
Mike's whole body stopped. Love. Love was such a monumental word in the wheeler house, it just wasn't said. But now with the Byers around he heard it significantly more often. It began to feel slightly normalised to him.
However, Mike wasn't stupid. He knew he didn't mean love like the way he loved his mom. He meant in the way boys and girls love eachother — romantically.
The cold air attacked his burning heart. His only experience of romance was El, and that involved hugging — which him and will already did incredibly often. The only thing they didn't do was kiss.
The idea of kissing Will, watching his sweet caramel eyes light up made butterflies nibble his insides. What the hell? Did he want to kiss him?
His cheeks started to flame up and he recognised feeling sort of similarly to when him and El kissed for the first time. But this was much stronger.
Will had finally lifted his head and his encaptivating eyes locked with Mike's. The brunette's tussled hair from the wind suited his delicate features, he did look beautiful.
Holy shit, did he actually want to Kiss Will Byers?
Mike reached his hand and cupped Will's cheek, gauging his reaction.
Neither of the pair moved a millimetre. Instead enjoying the peace and clarity of the moment.
The only way they knew time was moving was their white puffs of air they shared. The lifted brows Will carried along with a rogue tear that trickled down his soft skin. The moonlight reflected off of it, making it look like a snowflake.
Mike was the one to break the statue scene, carefully removing the tear with his thumb.
Will leaned further into the touch. Smiling so warmly that the cold was no longer noticeable.
His gaze was piercingly tender on Will, landing back onto his curved lips.
He really did want to kiss him.
"Um can I... you know?"
Will didn't respond, instead his pink lips quirked up even more and he closed the space swiftly. He thought Mike's nervousness was beyond adorable.
Their lips met and Mike didn't think he'd felt anything better. Will's lips were so soft, they fit so well against his own. He could have this, it was all for him.
And he wanted it more than anything.
When the pair broke apart, they both were dazed. Will's whole body felt like he was floating. However not the way he did when he was actually being hoisted in the air by Vecna, but a new feeling. An entirely weightless experience. No other emotions weighing him down.
His stomach was comfortably untying the knots in itself, whilst Mike stared at him like he was the most precious thing in the world. Eyes wide and mouth agape.
Will couldn't resist it, not after all these years, "One more?" His smile formed a cheeky grin as he lept back into his arms, and Mike stroked a hand through his also tangled hair.
He would have waited another decade for that.