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The world is ending, and Will got a boyfriend. It was less than twenty–four hours ago, but he’s still not sure how it happened. One moment he was kneeling on the ground wiping his nose as he came to terms with his new powers, and the next he was in the WSQK basement with Mike’s face inches from his, eyes wide as he told Will how amazing he was. Next thing Will knew, they were kissing on the couch until the door opened and they flew away from each other before Will realized it was just Robin and carefully slid his hand into Mike’s.
Robin smiled from ear to ear. She even ruffled Mike’s hair affectionately, which made Mike shrink into the collar of his sweater, nose scrunching adorably. Will had beamed.
The Mike and Will development happened hours after Will had broken down in his mom’s arms about their complete and utter failure. He couldn’t help but feel it was his fault that all the kids were taken, and when he talked to Mike about it later, Mike admitted he felt that he was the one at fault. But it wasn’t Mike’s fault, and Mike told Will it wasn’t his either. Will had almost cried again at the gentle way Mike looked at him, squeezing his shoulder and offering a reassuring smile. There was something about being with Mike that always makes Will feel like everything would be okay, even in the worst of situations. Mike has this unwavering faith about him, one that bolsters Will’s strength immediately. So when Mike tells Will something is true, Will trusts him unflinchingly. Without hesitation.
“You’re gonna be the one to save them,” Mike had said. “You’re amazing.”
And then Mike had given him a look, the same one he’d given months ago when they’d been talking in the basement until Will made the mistake of falling silent and Mike had glanced down at his lips and leaned the slightest bit forward, before Karen had interrupted them by calling for Mike. It’s a look that says kiss me. Kiss me.
So Will did, because he’s never been one to ignore a look from Mike Wheeler.
Here they are now, a day later, holding hands under the table while Hopper briefs them on their final plan for defeating Vecna, which Will is very much involved in. Mike is nervous about that; Will can tell by how hard he’s squeezing Will’s hand. Will strokes his thumb back and forth over Mike’s knuckles, hoping it can reassure him. Will remembers the way he used to feel before their crawls, sending Mike off with a “come home safe.” He imagines this is how Mike feels now, with Will having to put himself on the front lines with his new powers. Will has never wanted to curl himself up in Mike’s ribcage as much as he does now, with Mike so worried about being apart from him.
But for Will, Mike’s new role in his life has given him a much–needed boost of confidence, and he’s certain that he’ll come home safe, too. As long as Will has Mike by his side, literally or figuratively, he can do anything. Will plans on telling Mike that soon, before they separate, but for now all he can do is hold Mike’s hand, let him know he’s here.
Will’s listening to El take over the briefing as she explains what she, Kali and Will are going to do, and Will shivers a little at the mention of his name. He still can’t believe he has powers, if he’s being honest. That he can really do something tangible against Vecna. He’s stuck in that line of thought until he feels someone nudge his shoulder, and he looks up to find Mike’s lips near his ear. Mike’s eyes are shining as he smiles down at Will.
“Hey,” Mike whispers. “You got this.”
Will stares down at the ground to hide the pink flush on his cheeks, but from the way Mike gives his hand another squeeze Will can tell he noticed. The end of the world is probably an awful time to start thinking about how cute your boyfriend is, but Will can’t really help it. He’s always liked Mike’s crawl outfit, what with the green beanie and the smallest bits of his curls poking out from under it. He likes it even more now that Will can kiss him in it. Will allows himself one last look at Mike, who’s eyes are now turned towards the rest of their group, scanning the room to make sure everyone’s okay, which is so Mike it makes Will’s heart twist with affection. And then Will turns his attention back to El.
The briefing of their plan ends a few minutes later, with everyone dispersing to get ready for their various plans. While Mike is nervous about Will being on the front lines, Will is most nervous about being separated from Mike. It's that fear that has him tapping Mike on the shoulder from where he’s talking to Lucas and gesturing with his head to the WSQK bedroom.
Mike nods with immediate understanding, and follows Will into the bedroom. Carefully, Will looks around to make sure no one’s watching before he shuts the door, locking it quietly for good measure. Mike smiles at him, the soft kind of smile that Will knows is just for him, and then he’s all up in Will’s space, grabbing his hands.
“You okay?” Mike asks, and it takes Will years back in time. A crowded movie theater, outside a bustling arcade. Days back in time, to watching the sky spin in the woods. Hours back in time, when Mike kissed Will’s cheek right before their briefing and asked him. If there’s one thing Will has always been able to count on, it’s Mike’s care for him.
Will doesn’t answer. He’s too busy drinking up the sight of Mike, because he’s not sure when they’re going to see each other next. With Mike’s hair out of his face his freckles become even more prominent, scattering all across his nose and cheeks like stars. Will reaches up to touch them before he realizes what he’s doing, hovering his fingers gently over Mike’s skin, running his thumb over Mike’s cheekbone. It’s reverent, the type of gentle touch he’s always wished he could give Mike, to show him just how much he matters to Will.
“I’m okay,” Will says, finally. “Are you?”
“I’m okay,” Mike repeats. His hand comes up to the back of Will’s neck, the spot on his skin where goosebumps usually rise, a place Will has only ever let Mike’s hand rest. Mike’s fingers slip into Will’s hair, and he looks at Will like he’s the only person worth looking at. The only person worth seeing. And Will feels it, with Mike. That he’s worth it.
“You know,” Mike speaks up again, and Will gives him his full attention, the way he always does when Mike talks. “You don’t have to worry about not being able to keep me safe. You can tell when I’m about to be attacked because of the hivemind, remember?”
“I guess,” Will admits. “And I can just snap the Demo’s bones again.”
“Exactly!” Mike says, and somehow despite everything he’s grinning. “See, I told you. Sorcerer.”
Mike did tell him. This is why Will has never doubted him. This is why Will loves him. Because Mike is his knight in shining armor, but he never makes Will feel weak for it. Because Mike makes Will feel strong, like he can protect Mike right back. And he can.
He does. And he’ll do it again.
Will fits his palm more firmly on Mike’s cheek, and pulls him forward to kiss him. They’ve managed to find plenty of times in the last twenty–four hours to escape into the bedroom or a secluded corner and kiss, but every time still feels like the first time for Will. The way Mike’s hands tangle in his hair, the way Will can feel Mike’s warm blush unfurling under his freckles, the way their mouths connect like the flicker of a lightbulb, alive and animated and sparking with heat. Mike kisses Will gentle and hard all at once, in the all–encompassing way that Mike does everything. And Will can’t do much but melt into it, to kiss back just as much, to give Mike all of himself the way he’s always sworn to.
Mike pulls away first, Will chasing him on instinct to press another quick kiss to his mouth, which makes Mike smile and fills Will’s stomach with butterflies. But Mike’s smile fades quickly, as the reality of their circumstances comes crashing back to him, and Will hates that more than anything. Will is going to save the world, if only just to put that smile back on Mike Wheeler's face.
“Come back to me, yeah?” Mike says, loosely tangling the fingers of their free hands together as he says it, the slightest layer of water forming in his eyes. Will waits for the tears to come, so he can wipe them away, but they never do. Mike stays strong, but Will hopes he knows that if he were to break down crying right now, Will would hold him steady.
“I always do,” Will responds, because he does. He came back from the Upside Down. He came back from the Mind Flayer’s possession. He came back from Lenora. Will Byers always gravitates to Mike Wheeler, because where Mike is, that’s home. That’s always been home for Will, right by the side of the boy he’s loved since the day they met.
Mike pulls Will the remaining inches towards him, and tilts his head down the slightest bit to kiss his forehead. It’s the same way Jonathan always kisses Nancy’s forehead, and something about that makes Will’s closed eyes prickle with tears. He feels Mike’s lips linger on his forehead, and when Will opens his eyes he finds his view of Mike’s shirt blurry with his tears. Mike notices, because of course he does, and he presses their foreheads together, taking his hand off Will’s neck to brush away the tear that falls down his cheek.
“Why’re you crying?”
Will tries to think of an answer that would explain it. The truth is that he’s crying because he’s terrified, of what’s going to happen next, of Vecna, of losing his friends and family, of what could happen to Mike. He’s crying for Holly and Derek and the kids, who are probably suffering the same way he did years ago, and he’s crying for the way they’ll lose their childhoods just like he did. He’s crying for himself, because Will is so fucking scared to face Vecna again to use the powers he’s only just discovered. And he’s crying for Mike, who still hasn’t outwardly shown his worry for his parents and Holly, because he feels like he can’t.
He’s crying for happier reasons, too, because Mike is with him and Will loves him so much he always feels like he could cry about it. He’s crying because Mike makes him feel like his heart is bursting and blooming all at once, like a plant to the sun. He's crying because he just got Mike, just started to know what having him to touch and hold and kiss is like, and now he has to say goodbye. And he’s crying because of the way Mike looks at him, and how it makes Will so unbelievably happy, even at the end of the world.
And Will knows, without a doubt, that Mike is the only person he’d want to face the end of the world with. Even if they’re not physically together, they’re in each other’s hearts.
So when Will answers, it’s the truest thing he’s ever said.
“Because I love you,” Will says. “And I don’t want to say goodbye.”
Will watches Mike’s throat bob as he swallows, and he notices the wetness coming back into his eyes. Cry, Will thinks quietly. Let it out, Mike. Let me in. But Mike doesn’t, and Will understands. There’s no time to cry, and if Mike starts crying, he won’t stop. Will knows that much about Mike, because Mike never does anything in halves.
“I don’t either,” Mike says, voice trembling. Will can’t help it when he leans up to press a kiss to Mike’s jaw, reminding him that he’s here. “I love you, too.”
“I know,” Will says, his own voice cracking. The sound is enough for Mike to gather Will up into a hug, and Will clings to him tightly and cries, turning his head to kiss the spot where Mike’s neck meets his collarbone. He can feel Mike’s lips in his hair.
You’re the love of my life, Will thinks. He’s too afraid to say it aloud. He’s not sure how much life the two of them have left. Hopefully, they still have forever to go.
“You’re my heart, Mike Wheeler,” is what Will says instead, because it means the same thing. Mike clutches onto him even tighter, if that’s possible, and Will swears he feels a few teardrops in his hair. Leave it to Mike to only cry when Will can’t see it.
“And you’re mine, Will Byers,” Mike whispers back. They hold onto each other for a few more minutes until Will realizes he can’t go another second without seeing Mike’s face, and Will pulls away to take that face in his hands and tilt it downwards. Mike’s dark green beanie has slid up his forehead, revealing a few errant black curls poking out from under it. Will grins at the sight, because despite everything Mike looks adorable, and height difference be damned, Will has to kiss his forehead. So Will does, pulling Mike’s forehead towards him and pressing a long, lingering kiss there, one that says I love you and I’ll always come back to you and you make me want to save the world all at once. He can feel the way Mike’s whole body exhales under it, and Will wonders when the last time he was held like this was.
When Will pulls away Mike’s pupils are blown wide with love, and Will can’t help but lean forward and press another kiss to the tip of his nose, smiling when Mike screws up his entire face. Will would fight Vecna tooth and nail to keep Mike this safe and loved.
In a way, that’s exactly what he’s about to do.
God, Will loves Mike so much. He loves the way Mike’s brown eyes glimmer from the sunlight peeking through the window. He loves the way Mike’s freckles connect like the constellations he used to look at with his mom. He loves the way Mike smiles at him, the way Mike looks at him, the way Mike kisses him. He loved Mike when they were two kids on the swingset, when they were two teenagers fighting in the rain, when they were two near–adults kissing on the couch during the end of the world.
And the best part is, Will knows Mike loves him too. Mike has loved Will back, fiercely and fully, this whole time.
Will can hear people start to congregate back outside, but letting go of Mike is the hardest thing he’s ever had to do in his entire life, so for one more moment, he doesn’t. He pulls Mike towards him and kisses him, deep and slow, memorizing the way Mike’s lips feel against his and the way Mike’s fingers feel in his hair. The way Mike kisses him back.
This won’t be their last kiss. Will won’t let it be.
“I love you,” Will says for good measure when he pulls away. It’s his favorite thing to say, because it makes Mike smile so bright it could rival the sun.
“I love you, too,” Mike says, and he squeezes their hands together. He glances towards the door, and then back at Will, determination set into his gaze. Will adores him.
“You ready?” Mike asks. Will tries to match Mike’s expression, letting himself feel empowered by Mike’s love and his love for Mike. They’re Mike and Will. They’ve got this.
“I’m ready,” Will answers, smiling up at Mike. Mike smiles back at him, and Will reaches up to adjust Mike’s beanie with his free hand, pulling it back over his forehead. Mike’s grin grows bigger, the shy one that Will remembers from when he'd shoved him at the field. The one that lets Will know that Mike is a little flustered, but especially pleased.
“Alright,” Mike exhales, reaching for the doorknob. “Let’s do this.”
Their hands stay laced together as the door opens. They can let go in a moment; nobody’s watching them right now. For now, Will memorizes the feel of Mike’s hand in his, and knows he will carry it with him into battle. Will feels a little more hopeful, now. He has powers of his own, El and Kali fighting with him, and a whole crew of their friends and family alongside them.
And most importantly, Will has Mike, steady at his shoulder, the love of Will’s life.
The world may be ending, but Will has a feeling that he and Mike are just beginning.