Work Text:
“What’s so great about that douche anyway?” Mike huffs, rolling his eyes with full-bodied annoyance.
Dustin and Lucas exchange a look over his head. One Mike catches but pointedly ignores.
“He’s a total shithead!” Mike seethes, crossing his arms and dropping into a chair hard enough that it rattles.
The laughter and general happiness buzzing through the arcade only makes everything worse. He was having fun, at first. They all were.
It had been about two months since Vecna was finally gone. El had admitted she wasn’t ready for a relationship, that she needed to find herself, and she and Kali skipped town to “go on an adventure.” Mike didn’t feel bad about the breakup. He knew it hadn’t been working for a long time.
Around the same time, in what seemed to be a surprise to absolutely no one but him, Will came out as gay. The news hit Mike like a pickup truck. He never understood when exactly everyone else in Hawkins figured it out. He had always assumed the bullies called Will a fairy just to be cruel, not because it was true. He was shocked, and he felt guilty.
Because the first thing that flashed through his head when Will told them was that fight in the rain.
It’s not my fault you don’t like girls!
God.
He had apologized, accepted Will wholeheartedly, because he did, and they all ended up spending the night playing D and D for old times’ sake.
Later, when everyone else had gone home, it was just Mike and Will in the Wheeler basement. And Will had one last confession.
“There’s one more thing I need to confess,” Will had whispered.
When Mike looked at him, Will told him everything. About the painting. About how he had lied to protect Mike and El’s relationship. That all the things he said were true, but about his own feelings. That he had had a crush on Mike. That he was over it. That
“We’re still friends, right?” Will asked, eyes shining.
“Best friends,” Mike said.
One month later, a new presence started orbiting around Will. Dark hair, thick cork glasses, a mischievous grin. Everybody seemed to like him. And to be fair, Mike tried.
He really did.
But something about this interloper grated on him like sandpaper. He couldn’t stand him. The guy was always there. Mike honestly couldn’t remember the last time he had seen Will without this stray glued to his side.
He had tried explaining all this to Will, but Will just gave him a weird look. Mike wasn’t even sure if Will understood the point, but the result was that Will agreed to hang out with the original crew at the arcade, without the stray.
And things were fun again, like old times, until this guy suddenly appeared beside Will out of nowhere. Apparently he had the same brilliant idea to spend the afternoon at the arcade, and since he was already there, it “didn’t make sense to send him away.”
Which led to this exact moment.
“Is everything okay, guys?” a voice called, snapping Mike out of his spiraling thoughts.
“Is everything okay, guys?” the voice repeats.
Will’s new friend, Evan, or Ethan, or whatever his name was, stands there holding a paper cup of tokens, looking genuinely confused. Will straightens up instantly, nerves flickering across his face.
“Yeah. Yeah, totally,” Will says quickly, glancing between Mike and the newcomer. “We’re just talking about… uh… strategy.”
Dustin snorts. Lucas kicks him under the table.
Mike glares at the interloper anyway. “We were actually in the middle of something.”
“Oh.” The guy blinks behind his glasses. “My bad. I can go. I just saw you guys and wanted to say hi.”
He sounds so harmless that Mike feels instantly stupid, but only for half a second.
“We’ll meet up later,” Will says gently to him. “I promise.”
The guy gives a tiny smile, mischievous, stupid, annoying, and steps away toward the pinball machines. Will watches him leave, shoulders sagging a little. When he sits back down, he looks at Mike with an expression Mike really, really hates.
It is the “I think you’re being a jerk” face.
“What?” Mike snaps.
Will’s voice is low. “Why are you acting like this?”
“Like what?!”
“Like you hate him.”
Mike scoffs loudly. “I don’t hate him. I just don’t… like him.”
Dustin snickers. Lucas mutters, “Wow, compelling argument.”
Will folds his arms. “He hasn’t done anything to you.”
“He exists,” Mike mutters.
Dustin coughs. “Subtle,” he whispers.
Will frowns deeply now, hurt creeping in. “Mike, if this is about… me being gay…”
“What?” Mike nearly falls out of his chair. “No. No, no, no, no, what?!”
“Well, you didn’t act like this before,” Will says carefully. “And now suddenly any boy I talk to irritates you? I’m not saying you’re homophobic, but it kinda feels like you’re uncomfortable or…”
“Will, stop.” Mike’s voice cracks embarrassingly. He lowers it. “It’s not that. At all.”
Will hesitates, searching Mike’s face. “Then what is it? Because you’re pushing people away again, and I don’t know why.”
Mike opens his mouth, but nothing comes out.
Nothing.
Just static.
Will’s face tightens, a flicker of disappointment crossing his features before he looks away sharply.
“Okay,” he says, voice clipped. “Fine.”
“Will!”
“No, it’s fine. If you don’t want to talk to me, then don’t.” He stands up too fast, the chair legs scraping hard against the arcade floor. “I’m not begging you to be honest.”
He walks off before anyone can say anything else.
Dustin winces. “Dude.”
Lucas shakes his head. “You really messed that up.”
Mike shoots out of his seat. “I know!”
He hurries after Will, but Will is already halfway across the arcade, pushing through a crowd of kids at the prize counter. Mike calls his name, but Will doesn’t turn around.
The walk home feels like walking through mud.
They leave the arcade with Dustin and Lucas mumbling excuses about “giving them space,” and Will is already five steps ahead, shoulders rigid, backpack slung carelessly like he doesn’t care if it falls.
Mike tries to keep up.
“Will, can you slow down?”
“Why?” Will doesn’t look back. “You weren’t listening earlier.”
“That’s not”
“You didn’t answer me,” Will snaps, voice cracking around the edges.
Mike flinches. Will never snaps.
They walk in silence for another block, every step making the distance between them feel heavier, even though they’re right beside each other.
By the time they reach the Wheeler’s basement, everything erupts.
Will drops his backpack with a thud. “Just tell me what I did wrong.”
Mike throws his hands up. “You didn’t do anything wrong!”
“Then why are you acting like you hate me? Like you’re angry I exist?”
Mike stops mid-step, stunned. “I’m not angry you exist!”
“Then what?!” Will’s eyes are bright, frustrated, hurt. “Because I’m trying so hard to understand you, and you just shut down!”
Mike’s heartbeat stutters painfully.
“I’m not shutting down,” he says, but even he hears how weak it sounds.
Will’s voice drops. “I thought we were okay. After everything. After that night in the basement.”
He swallows. “I thought we trusted each other.”
Mike feels something crack open in his chest.
“We do. I do.”
“Then why won’t you tell me why you hate this guy? Why you get so upset every time he talks to me? Why you look like you want to scream every time he stands next to me?”
Mike’s throat works. His palms are sweating. His mind is racing.
Because I’m jealous.
Because it feels like you’re slipping away.
Because he likes you.
Because I—
He doesn’t say any of it.
Will steps back, folding his arms around himself. “Just tell me the truth, Mike. Whatever it is.”
Mike’s breath shudders.
And finally everything he has been holding in bursts out.
“Fine. I don’t like him because he likes you.”
Will freezes.
“And I don’t like that he likes you because I think I like you too. Okay? There. Happy?”
The basement goes silent.
Will stares at him, stunned, mouth open just slightly. Not angry. Not offended. Just shocked.
“You like me?” he asks softly.
Mike doesn’t look at him. “Yeah.”
Then quieter. “Yeah.”
Will breathes out, almost a laugh. “You. Mike Wheeler. Are jealous of a guy at the arcade.”
Mike mutters, “Don’t make it sound stupid.”
“It’s not stupid.” Will shakes his head, eyes warm. “I just didn’t think you’d ever feel that way.”
“Well.” Mike shrugs helplessly. “I didn’t think I would either.”
Will steps a little closer, not touching, not crossing any lines, just close enough that Mike feels the space change.
“You could’ve just told me,” Will says softly.
Mike huffs out a shaky laugh. “Yeah, well, I’m terrible at this.”
“I noticed,” Will says with a small smile. “But I’m glad you told me anyway.”
Mike finally meets his eyes.
There’s something bright there. Something hopeful. Something that makes Mike feel like he can breathe again.
And for the first time all day, Will doesn’t look hurt.
He looks relieved.
“Mike, you have nothing to be worried about. Elias” Mike blinks; wow, he was way off “is just a friend. But I’ve been in love with you from before I even understood what love is.” Will’s voice softens, vulnerable. “I perfected my art by tracing your face. You’ve made an indelible mark on me mind, body, soul. You know, like the song from that musical.”
That stops Mike cold.
“What musical?” he croaks.
Will’s cheeks redden. Then, slowly, he starts humming.
“Push my love aside… hopelessly devoted to you…”
Mike snorts so hard it startles him. “Okayyy, sorry, but we are officially crossing the border from sweet to sickening.”
Will bursts into laughter, bright and relieved. Mike laughs too, shoulders loosening for the first time all day.
Mike steps forward, close enough that the space between them disappears, and gently bumps his lips against Will’s in a soft moment that makes both of them go still. Will’s breath catches. Mike’s feels like it stutters.
Will swallows. “So… what happens now?”
Mike’s voice is barely above a whisper, a grin tugging at the corners.
“I think,” he says, “we’ll go crazy together.”
Will laughs again, quiet and warm.
And Mike doesn’t feel jealous anymore. He just feels seen.