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Will knew there was no way he could fall asleep. He didn’t want to check the time, but he would have to in a bit. Even without checking he knew it was way past midnight, and that he was most likely the only one awake in the Wheeler’s house.
He didn’t even have to rub his eyes as he heightened himself into a sit. His sleeping bag was warm from body heat, and the lack of AC in the Wheeler’s basement didn’t help. Technically, there was Air Conditioning, but it wasn’t strong in the slightest.
Will turned to see his brother on the couch next to him. He was snoring somewhat faintly but it was consistent and apparent. An old analog clock ticked on the wall constantly, and if Johnathan’s snoring was quieter tonight, Will wouldn’t have heard it. The air was disgustingly warm as the heat of the day crowded it. Will sighed, placing at foot on the floor off of his sleeping bag.
The floor of the basement was cool in contrast to the July heat crowding the basement from the day. Will was uncharacteristically hot in that basement but the tiles were still too cool to sleep on.
In a low sigh Will stood up from his makeshift bed and blinked rapidly a few times before scanning the basement again.
Will had trouble sleeping recently, especially since the craters around Hawkins weren’t completely sealed yet. Will had always been a light sleeper, a scared kid of some sort. He knew Johnathan used to be like him, but now he could barely be woken up by a slap. Will figured it was due to his father—if he could even call him that. All the yelling and fighting doesn’t help a young kid’s growth, that’s what Will told himself.
But recently, in the past few years and especially these months back in Hawkins, Will had felt his sleep problems get worse. He wasn’t going to tell his mom and cause a whole thing, so he resorted to staying quiet and thinking over everything.
But everything was too much, and Will realized that all this thinking didn’t help his ever growing insomnia. Actually, it probably made it worse. Some part of him felt his anxiety rush whenever he thought of the mindflayer, of all the deaths in Hawkins, and especially of how he felt, well—different.
Will hated himself for being different. He wished he could just go back to being a normal kid, without any of those feelings. Why did he think his best friend was—forget it.
Maybe he could just think about when Hawkins was normal. Before he was taken on that fateful November night.
Will made his way up the steps with light footsteps, careful not to wake Johnathan, though Will doubted he’d stir. With the faintest creak he opened the basement door and stepped into the kitchen.
The familiar red counters and apple wood cabinets greeted him almost like a person, like the kitchen and Will were the only two people awake. Will made his way towards the kitchen phone and opened the snack cabinet below it.
The Wheelers had some pretty good snacks, and Will craving a midnight snack was satisfied by what he saw inside. One or two Twinkies would do fine.
Will cringed at the crinkling of plastic, pulling out the sugary treat from the cabinet. Carefully, he closed it back up and put his back against the island to find a glass. Will grabbed one and set it on the counter, turning around to face the stairway and hall.
Mike was standing there walking down the hallway, not aware that Will was in the kitchen. He was wearing some baggy sleep shorts and a AC/DC shirt that was much to big for him. It fit comfortably on his lanky figure and his freshly cut black curls framed his tired face nicely.
Will blinked. For one time his gut was wrong, he wasn’t the only one awake in the house. Mike looked up from the floor and noticed Will, the slightest hint of a smirk on his face. Will’s heart jumped, but not so much as he was still tired despite the insomnia.
“Hey Will.” Mike spoke, lazily rubbing his eyes with a swipe from his right hand. Will quickly looked at his outfit, grabbing his glass and walking to the sink.
“Didn’t think you’d be awake.” Will said, almost teasing. Mike snickered.
“Well, this is what hunger does to a guy.”
Will looked at Mike again. He didn’t look like he had just woken up, so Will assumed Mike was as alert as he was. Will filled his glass with water from the sink and placed it down. He looked over his left shoulder and almost jumped, Mike was beside him grabbing a glass for himself.
Will sat the glass down on the counter and turned to Mike, who was now filling his own glass. Mike’s pupils were wide from the darkness of the house and Will admired how they gleamed. Mike had placed his glass down on the counter next to Will’s and was smiling faintly, now reaching into the cabinet for his own Twinkie.
“So…” Mike placed his Twinkie down, opening the packaging. Will looked up, his heartbeat rising. “What are you doing up so late?” He finished.
Will hesitated, looking to his best friend. “Just the same as you, hungry.” Will lied, Mike could tell he was lying, but let it slip considering the nature of the situation.
Mike cocked an eyebrow. “Sure…” Mike trailed, lowering his upper body to rest on the counter.
Will looked at him. Mike had an unusual hint of humor in his eyes. This made him a bit nervous, but his heart wouldn’t go any faster at this hour.
“Tell me the real reason why you’re here, Byers?” Byers? Will cocked his own eyebrow. Mike was acting unusually…childish. What was up with him tonight.
Will figured he’d tell the truth now, he didn’t want anything—weird happening tonight. Besides, something about that look felt familiar.
“I couldn’t sleep..sorry.” Will said. Mike’s expressed softened, but that mischief was still clinging like sap.
“No need to apologize.”
“No, I lied Mike.” Will said plainly, even if it was small he still did lie. His voice wasn’t sad in the slightest, it was just upfront and just. Still, Mikes eyes softened. But then they shone with mischief again.
Mike took a sip of his water and Will did the same, the biting into his Twinkie. A few moments of silence passed, then Mike spoke.
“Do you think you’ll fall asleep down there?” Or at all was what Mike didn’t add. Will knew he meant it though.
He shook his head. “Nope, I’ve never really been a good sleeper.” Will said, turning his hazel eyes to Mikes brown ones. He had a smile dusted over his face, and Mike had the same mischievous twist to his own expression.
Mike rolled his eyes with a smile and turned away from Will for a second. “You strike me as a light sleeper.” Will chuckled at the remark.
“I would say I’m surprised, but it’s pretty obvious when you’ve known someone for years.” Will acknowledged. Mike turned back to Will.
“Yeah, it’s crazy how much we know about each other, y’know? But also don’t.” Mike added. Will’s stomach twisted. Mike didn’t know so much about him, but that did make Will think about Mike’s own thoughts and what he didn’t know about his best friend.
Will bit into his Twinkie, savoring in artificial taste. Mike did the same, and they both stood there in silence until they were done eating.
“Wanna go up to my room?” Mike proposed. Will almost spit out his water. After he calmed down he turned to Mike for further information.
“Like.. you’re not gonna fall asleep, right? We could like—hang out?” Will nodded, now understanding. That caught him off guard.
“Yeah—well, if you’re ok with it.” Will nodded. Mike smiled, his almost evil grin back on his face.
“Will I suggested it.” Mike stated, chuckling. Will smiled, sipping the rest of his water. “C’mon!” Mike grabbed his hand just as he placed his glass in the sink, catching him off guard.
They speed-walked down the hallway and made a sharp turn onto the stairway. Quickly but quietly, the two raced up the stairs.
Will had just taken attention to Mike’s contact with his hand and starred. Obviously, Mike wasn’t aware, but Will was hyper focused on the constant contact.
They made another sharp turn and Will took attention to Mike’s room at the end of the hallway. His door was wide open and the Navy walls were casting a lived in feeling to the room. The posters and wall decorations added to this feel, and his room was fairly clean.
Well, fairly clean for Mike’s room. There were two pillows and a few pieces of clothes scattered throughout the floor, but besides that, spotless.
Mike almost shoved Will onto his bed like a girl at a sleepover, and Will was caught off guard again. He wasn’t even sure if his heart could beat this fast at this hour of night, but it was happening.
Mike closed his door as quietly as possible and sat on his queen-sized bed beside Will, that glimmer brighter than ever in his pupils.
Will couldn’t ignore it now. That look was practically infecting the room with Mike’s unusual energy, and at this hour it was more than off. Will twisted his head slightly.
“What’s up?” He asked, Mike watched him intently.
“What do you mean?”
“You’re acting a bit weird tonight, like—you’re hiding something?” Will explained. By Mike’s expression, Will could tell he knew exactly what he was doing. But he didn’t know what he was hiding. “What’s up?” The shorter boy repeated. Mike bit his lip, choosing his words carefully.
“So..” Mike began. Will’s interest peaked, and he listened intently. Mike continued. “Recently you’ve seemed—sad, I wasn’t the best friend back in California, so I wanna make it up to you.” Will was still confused, but he listened on. What was Mike getting at? Mike paused, so Will took this as his cue to speak.
“Make it up to me…how?” Will asked, almost utterly confused. He would get it in a minute, though.
Mike grinned, he was beaming with that raw energy bigger than before.
“Well, I figured you haven’t laughed much recently.” The way Mike tinged his voice on that word couldn’t be good. What was he hinting at.
Oh no.
Oh no.
Ever since he was young, Will had been disastrously sensitive. In many ways, emotionally, physically, he was the type of kid to be made fun of and be picked on for everything he couldn’t control. Now Will had been less physically sensitive, and somewhat less emotionally sensitive, but that wasn’t the point.
This was about laughing. Mike wanted Will to laugh.
Mike knew Will was ticklish. Since 3rd grade they had had little wrestles and fights, and Mike had always won.
The thing was, they hadn’t done anything like that since 6th grade, and ever since Will was taken into the Upside Down, they had slowed down on playful physical touch and had been more so soft.
But of course, very recently the rarely interacted physically, and it felt weird to be close around friends and other people. Especially considering they were older now, and it seemed weird. Seemed almost queer to the average person.
Of course, Will knew he was gay, but he didn’t want anyone knowing he was. He wasn’t ready for that, and the world sure as hell wasn’t too.
Still, Mike didn’t know if Will was ticklish anymore. Will wasn’t even sure if he was, but he didn’t know if he even wanted to risk it.
Will bounced his leg awkwardly, his eyes glowing almost childlike. Both of their eyes were, Mike’s being more teasing, of course.
Will decided he’d ask just to make sure he heard wrong and was overthinking. “I don’t follow?” Will lied. Mike had already caught the way his eyes shown in fear before, so he knew Will followed. Just like Mike had said, people that knew each other for years knew things about them well.
Mike cocked an eyebrow, slowly inching towards Will. Will rolled onto his back, trying to make a lazy escape. This was a grave mistake, as Mike straddled him, keeping Will in place firmly.
Will blushed wildly from the impact, but had no choice but to face Mike because of the position.
Mike grinned, looking down at the shorter boy. Will was bracing himself for impact at this moment.
“Mike—you don’t have to do this.” Will rambled. “You don’t want to wake up everyone, do you?” Mike took a glance at his guitar, hanging on the wall.
“Good one. You know I sound-proofed this place months ago, right Will?” Will cursed silently, darting his eyes anywhere around the room instead of Mike’s smug face.
“..shit.” Will whispered. He rarely cursed, but now felt like the occasion to do so.
“What was that, mister Byers?” Will covered his face with his hands, cringing and blushing at the same time.
“Micheal…”
“Don’t ’Micheal’ me!” Mike tore Will’s hands off his face. This of course didn’t help his case in the slightest. Will’s eyes glimmered with a third emotion, excitement. Though, it was almost drowning in the other two. “You’re the one who can’t sleep,” Mike dramatized. “What’s better than sleep, you ask?”
“I didn’t ask anything—“ Mike placed a finger over Will’s soft lips.
“Ah ah ah, monologging, Byers.” Will cringed again at his last name, but he had to comply.
Mike continued, “Well, as I was saying, having fun is better than sleep!” Mike bolstered, throwing his hands up comically. Will rolled his eyes, and Mike caught attention of this quickly. “Ah, what’s this?”
Will cursed under his breath again, and Mike’s eyes widened theatrically. With a gasp, or a breath of air, Mike continued. Will wanted him to stop monologging and get this done with. “You think fun is overrated?” Mike continued. Will shook his head. “Well it sure seems like it, you look damningly bored, almost annoyed, is that trueee, mister Byers?” Will cringed again, but complied. He shook his head almost violently, his nerves practically exploding, even before Mike’s onslaught.
Mike cocked a brow, his smile coming back and his persona lowering. “I guess we’ll have to test it, then.” Mike stated, wiggling his figures in the younger boy’s face.
Will blinked. “Mike..” But Will wasn’t annoyed, Mike could tell some part of him wanted this, so he continued.
“Yes?” He asked, digging into Will’s sides suddenly. Will immediately began to giggle, but quietly, as if not to wake anyone up. This was of course dumb, since Mike’s room was as stated, soundproofed.
Will shut his eyes and grinned, letting out little yelps and giggles every so often. Mike grinned down at his best friend. Both of them had a playful expression in their eyes now, though Will’s were still shut.
“Mihihike—“ Will trailed. His stomach was contorting now as Mike targeted it. Will couldn’t see it, but he knew Mike had that shit eating grin on his face. The one he missed so dearly.
Briefly, Will opened his eyes to look and him, and was of course greeted with it. Will’s stomach filled with heat, even as it already was warm from the onslaught.
“Yeah? What is it, Byers?” Mike teased, poking Will’s belly button. This earned him a squeal.
Will didn’t know what to say. He couldn’t think with the way Mike was ever-so-lightly tormenting his stomach. It was too much and not enough at the same time, and made Will’s brain go all fuzzy.
Mistakingly. “Fuhuck yohouou!” Will laughed.
Will Byers never cursed, but tonight was a night for things that hadn’t happened in a while, or rarely happened. Obviously, Mike took this as a challenge, as he always did with these sorts of things.
He gasped. Will was still giggling from the feather light touches. “Did William Byers just curse me out?” Mike asked no one in particular. Will just chuckled. “A-and, he’s laughing at me?” Mike continued. “Whatever Will I do!” Will knew he would be impacted by this mistake in one way or another.
“Oh wait, how about this.” Mike prodded Will’s neck, earning and almost shriek. That did the trick. “Mister Byers, is your neck ticklish?” Will merely shrunk with the impact, having trouble speaking.
“Sh-huhut uhp!” He giggled, trying his best not to scream. Mike grinned down at Will, finally breaking his theatrical persona.
“This fun? Are you having fun being tickled, Will.” Will felt his face get even redder. He was having fun, but this was drastically embarrassing.
With no other choice, he responded. “Yehehehes!” Will chuckled, curling his neck away from Mike’s fingers. Mike cooed, grinning at his work.
Slowly, Mike moved back to Will’s stomach. After a while, Mike slowed down, eventually resulting in him steadily tracing the sensitive parts of Will’s stomach. Way less ticklish, but way more embarrassing to Will, as he felt every light swipe of Mike’s fingers like electricity. After a bit of this, Mike spoke.
“You enjoyed that, huh?” He asked, sneering slightly. Will reddened, but nodded nonetheless. Mike sneered again, almost laughing at Will, but not in a humiliating way. This was more so teasy and light hearted. “Honestly, I enjoyed it too, funny to think we’re still kind of the same.” Mike laid beside Will now. They were both turned to eachother on their sides, close enough to feel the other’s breathing.
“Do you think you’re still ticklish?” Will asked, lightheartedly. Mike was impacted differently, as he reddened slightly, but just slightly from this remark. Will smirked, poking the older boys stomach. This earned him a yelp.
“Don’t even try, William.” This felt very playful. Will laughed, rolling his eyes.
“Okay, Micheal.” Will responded.
Without talking, they both decided they were finally tired enough to sleep. Will took hold of one of many fluffy blankets Mike had and Mike slid under his comforter, his breathing light and unusually airy.
Will fell asleep after Mike, but still relatively quickly. His mind didn’t have time to think through what had just happened, but he sure as hell would be thinking about it tomorrow. (And the days to come).
With a quick light breath, Will Byers closed his eyes, and before he could exhale, he was asleep.
…
“Mike! Wake up!” A young female voice spoke, somewhere near Mike’s doorway. Will rubbed his eyes and stared at the tangled position he had got himself into with his best friend. Quickly, Will slid to the edge of his bed, noticing Holly. Will smiled.
“Did you guys have a sleepover?” Holly asked, raising a blonde brow. Will nodded.
“You could say that,” Holly smiled. “Your brother is a deep sleeper.” Will looked over at Mike, he was just rubbing his eyes now. Mike lazily lifted himself up to a sitting position, hair falling in all sorts of directions.
“Yeah.” Holly laughed at the joke, smiling. Will smiled back. Mike merely grumbled a ‘what?’ which of course made them laugh even more.
“Today you better show me how you draw those people, okay?” Holly stated, turning her attention back to Will. Will nodded, and Holly was off before he could say anything else.
Will stood up, walking out of Mike’s room just as he got up. Will needed a shower.
…
Just as Will was shampooing his locks, he thought over everything that had happened last night. Will had craved something like that for so long, and was glad he had finally gotten it.
It was more than Will thought he would get in a while, and it felt genuine. Like they were back to the good corners of their friendship.
Finally, Will thought about the details before seeing Mike in the Wheelers kitchen and going to his room. Before coming out of the disgustingly warm Wheeler’s basement. Will remembered how he thought he would have to check the time, but he never did see how late it was.
Honestly, though he thought he would, he didn’t have to check the time at all.
Will hyper-analyzed and planned everything, but sometimes he didn’t have to. Maybe he could let loose a little, let things come to him.
After all, a lot can change in a span of days. Sometimes you just have to initiate it.
And sometimes the thing doing the initiation is your sleep problems.