Chapter Text
The room was quiet. The weight of the day still hanging in the air, unprocessed.
Noone had any words anyway, the unspoken understanding between them was more than enough.
An hour and half had past, since the massacre at the Mac-z, and everyone had returned to the WSQK station, with various levels of injuries. The only person not present, was Murray, who was left to deal with the rest of the Turnbow family, apparently having knowledge of hypnosis.
On the couch laid Will, who had passed out from taking out three Demogorgon’s. Mike was watching over him, having convinced Joyce to take a rest.
**********************
The other three were in the kitchen. Erica was trying to track down some food, to try and give everyone some energy while Robin was trying to patch up Lucas, who had a decently large hole in his chest, thanks to the Demogorgon.
He sucked in a breath when Robin started to apply the rubbing alcohol. She noticed his discomfort.
“Sorry, I’m not trying to hurt you”
“No, you’re okay, it just hurts a little.” He hissed as the searing pain teared through his body.
“Dude, we can take you to the hospital” She suggested. Lucas shook his head.
“No, this is the type of injury that will raise suspicion, which is exactly what we don’t need right now”
“True”
Lucas smirked. “Although, if I had to guess, you want to visit a certain red-headed candy striper?” He whispered, wiggling his eyebrows at her.
Robin looked mortified a slight blush appearing on her cheeks.
“How did you- “
“Come on, I spend almost ALL my time with Max, you didn’t think I wouldn’t notice you two sneaking off together, did you?”
Her face reddened.
Erica piped up. “I saw you two talking one time, and she literally made the same face as Latisha P. when Jake W. asked if she wanted to hang out with him at recess, it was gross”
She glared at Erica. “What are you butting in for?”
“Because I love giving my opinion.”
“Y’know what? You can go check on Mike and Will.”
Erica whipped her head around. “Why do I have to do it?”
“Because I’m trying to patch up your brother, now unless you want to do this, GO”
Erica scowled, mumbling something nasty at Robin, who flipped her off in return.
She turned back around to Lucas.
“Look, I know I don’t need to ask this, you’re not the type to do this, and I mean, I didn’t even know you knew, but, like, please don’t tell anyone. It’s not that I’m ashamed or anything! please don’t think that, just, you know what the people here are like. I don’t- we don’t need any more problems right now.”
“don’t worry, I wouldn’t dream of it, and despite my sister’s ability to never fail in giving her unwanted opinion to people, she respects you too much to say anything without your permission.”
“Your sister respects me?”
“I know, I’m shocked too, that club has a really exclusive guest list.”
“Well, I feel honoured.”
“You should, but hey, just so you know, I don’t care who you like, none of us do, I know you know this, but you are completely and utterly safe here”
She smiled, whispered thank you, and continued wrapping the bandage around Lucas.
“But, um, I actually kind of don't want to go visit her right now”
Lucas raised an eyebrow.
“Look, don’t judge me. But I may have kind of stood her up last night. And that was after I had already cancelled our date, so I don’t really want to run the risk of bumping into her right now”
He raised his eyebrow higher. Robin glared at him, a slight hint of amusement in her eyes.
“Hey! I specifically told you not to judge me for this, I was busy, y’know, SAVING HUMANITY! so don’t you DARE give me shit for this Sinclair!”
He put his hands up in defence, replying in a playful tone “Hey, I didn't say boo! why are you attacking me when nothing even came out of my mouth!”
Robin glared at him again, this time with a smile spread across her face. She picked up a piece of rubbish that someone had left there and threw it at him.
“Hey, what was that for, I still don't know what I did wrong!”
Robin flipped him off, and started throwing whatever bits of rubbish she could find at Lucas.
“Hey what did I do! This isn't fair! I’m getting attacked! ABUSE! DISCRIMINATION!
ow- shit-” Lucas winced, accidently twisting his body in the wrong direction, pinching his wound.
“Shit! sorry”
****************************
A few minutes later, Lucas was all bandaged up, eating whatever sugary thing Erica managed to drum up, to try and numb the constant pain that was flowing through his body. Robin was putting away the first aid kit, when Erica walked back in the room, her face contorted into something that looked like it would stick if the wind changed direction.
“Everything okay?”
She looked back up at Robin. “Well, for one, those two act gayer than that lesbian couple across the road from nanas, and two. I had no idea it was even possible for anyone to do sappier shit than Lucas”
Lucus shot her a look. “Erica, LANGUAGE!”
She scoffed. “Just the facts! you'd be saying the exact same thing, if you looked at that.”
“Still, you shou-” He paused. “Wait what did you say?”
Leaping off his chair, he grabbed Erica by the shoulders.
“Are you telling me one of our theories are correct? Which one? What information did you discover?”
“Calm down will you, jeez this is why I don’t hang out with you guys; besides I couldn’t tell much based on the THREE SECONDS I was out there. It’s definitely our first three though”
“ha-ha YES, I TOLD YOU! There is NO WAY neither of those two know they have feelings!”
Robin blinked. “I think I have a fair idea of what is going on here, but can someone please just explain it to me, so I really get it?”
Lucas turned to her. “Have you noticed the…uhh...dynamics…. between mike and will?
“You mean how those two are so devastatingly in love with each other, its actually sickening?”
“Exactly! See! It’s so obvious right?”
“So obvious!”
“Well, a little while ago, me and Dustin were discussing them, and Erica, who never minds her own. damn. business.”
She made a face at him. He ignored her.
“Had joined in our conversation and together we came up with 5 theories about what could be happening between them”
“Of course, we’ve already ruled out theory four and five which were that neither knew they had feelings, or that we were wrong and they are strictly platonic”
Robin snorted. “I don’t think there is a universe out there where those two are ‘strictly platonic’”
“Oh yeah, no, those two have been 100 percent cursed to fall in love with their best friend in every universe”
“Well as much as I agree with the two of you, I still think theory four is correct, y’all are stupid, I’m surprised y’all’s dumbasses have survived this long”
Lucas shot her another glare and Erica rolled her eyes. Robin looked at this silent conversation unsure of what to say or do.
“Uhm, so what’s the other three theories?”
“Oh sorry, yeah, uh, theory one, Dustin’s theory, is that they have actually been dating the entire time, and we just haven’t noticed. Which, I mean, is plausible, El and Mike broke up months ago, while they were in California, so that would have been plenty of time for Mike and Will to establish a relationship. And with the way those two were acting during the 18 months they were under the same roof, I’d say, it’s definitely a solid theory.”
“Wait, Mike and El broke up?” Erica asked.
“Yeah, Mike told me, right before this crawl, I was kind of shocked actually, not surprised, because well, come on, but I was definitely shocked, I was sure Mike hadn’t realised yet that he doesn’t love Eleven.
Will apparently already knew however”
Robin looked towards wills direction. “Snowballs...” she whispered.
“I’m sorry?”
She blinked. “Oh sorry, no, just talking to myself, continue”
“Alright. Theory two, which was my theory, was that will is already aware of his feelings for mike, but Mike is still oblivious to his. This theory is likely to be true. I don’t think mike has actually understood what he feels for will just yet. I mean if we give him time, yes, but I genuinely think he believes that what he has with Will is no different to what I have with Dustin. Will on the other hand has been pining for Mike for years. I think that man just might beat me in a yearning competition, He looks like a kicked puppy every time he sees Mike and El. Although, this has been the first year, I have seen hope in his eyes. Mikes definitely done something, I just know it”
Erica and Robin both nodded in agreement.
“Theory three is the reverse of that, where mike knows and will doesn’t. That theory is less likely however, cause like we keep saying, mike is stupid”
Robin giggled. “That he is.”
“So really its between theory one and theory two”
“Well, let’s have a look, shall we?” she suggested, inching towards the door.
*************************************
The three of them left the kitchen and made their way into the recording booth. They manoeuvred their way around the equipment, making sure not to make too much noise and peered through the tinted glass, at the two boys in front of them. Robin and Steve had made the decision to tint the window a little while ago, to keep an eye on anyone who walked in. It was also useful, so that they could move around the booth, without anyone seeing them, including Mike and will, who were both on the tiny couch in front of the booth.
Mike had somehow squeezed into the tiny space, sitting slightly upright. Will was positioned practically on top of him, with one of Mikes arms wrapped around him, to stop him from falling off. They could see that his hand was gently rubbing Wills back, while the other was slowly massaging his scalp.
Will on the other hand, had both arms wrapped around mike, his head laying on Mike’s chest, presumably to listen to his heartbeat. They were whispering something to each other, both looking rather content.
It was such a sweet intimate moment between the two, that Lucas almost felt like they were intruding.
Intimate moments like these, weren’t uncommon lately for Mike and Will, the two basically being joined at hip ever since they had returned from California. Lucas understood, comfort was something they all needed, especially after the last few years.
He suddenly felt a pang of sadness, it was times like this, where he missed Max the most. Taking a deep breath, he tried to fight back the tears in his eyes and focus on Mike and Will, hoping no one would notice his change in behaviour. Robin had.
Erica lifted her head towards Lucas and whispered. “So, what do you think, theory one or two?”
“Uhh, give me a second.”
Lucas looked at will and noticed that despite the obvious content look on his face, his eyes still held that hopeful look that both he and Dustin had come to recognise in him lately.
“Two.”
******************************************
They pulled back, not wanting to disturb the scene, and made their way to the kitchen. Robin was practically jumping for joy.
“Oh. My. God. What was that, I swear those two were so close to each other, they were practically making out.”
Erica waved her hands around. “SEE?!! What did I say??” She groaned. “Argh I just wish there was something we could do. Those two have been dancing around each other for years, I just want to yell at them to wake the hell up so that they can finally be happy”
Lucas stared at the ground for a second, thinking. A shit-eating grin started to appear on his face as he lifted his head to look back up at the others.
Erica sighed. “I know that look, what have you come up with this time?”
“I’ve got an idea on how we can do it, how we can get them together, or, well, at least get Mike to realise his feelings”
Robin and Erica walked towards Lucas, interested to hear what he had to say.
“We’re listening...”
He took a breath. “Well, y’know, how jealous Mike gets right? Whenever someone gets close too Will? He’s been jealous of me before for some reason, and I know he’s jealous of Robin”
Robin looked confused. “Me? Why the hell would he be jealous of me?”
“Because he’s noticed Will’s behaviour change around you, he’s smiling more and looking happier. While we were in the cave, I swear he tried blowing you up with his mind.
Not to mention that you had said you had a date, and then we found out that you had wandered off with will. He actually believes you two are dating and it’s pissing him off.”
She scrunched up her face in disgust. “Ew really?”
“Yep. But don’t worry, he’s like that with every girl Will comes into contact with. It almost feels like he wants to murder anyone who shows a slight bit of interest in him.
El sent him a letter once, before he went down to California, and it mentioned that Will was painting for someone, a possible girlfriend in Lenora. Mike was so mopey that day, it took me and Dustin hours to convince him that will hadn’t abandoned us.
Even then, he ruined movie night because he kept complaining about how this mystery women ‘didn’t know Will like we do’ or ‘how will he explain the upside down to her’ honestly it was exhausting”
Erica snorted. “Does Will know just how much he has that man wrapped around his finger?”
“Exactly what I’m saying!”
Robin suddenly sat up, looking excited. “Snowballs. Guys, snowballs!”
They both looked at her. Erica raised an eyebrow. “Girl did you hit your head or something? Why the hell are you mentioning snowballs?” she asked.
“Shit- context- sorry, basically while we were getting the meds, Will asked me how I knew Vickie wanted to date. I let him know that there were signals, like y’know, brush of the knee, shared look, bump of the elbow, that sort of thing. Those signals turned into snowballs, which eventually became an avalanche.
Well, if I’m correct, in Wills case, he already has the snowballs. Y’know, Mikes jealousy, all those looks he keeps giving Will, not to mention whatever happened in those eighteen months, which I’m very curious about by the way. My guess is that Lucas has a plan to try and make those snowballs into an avalanche, am I correct?”
Lucas grinned again. “That is exactly what I’m trying to do. Mike loves making sure that he has an enemy to fight, that he’s the one protecting will. So, what if we make some competition for him? I mean, I don’t have an exact idea on how to do it, but if we make him believe that Will has shifted his attention to someone else, and we poke the bear, by somehow heightening Mike’s jealousy, then we can probably get him to think about why he wants Wills attention all the time.”
His grin grew wider. “We make him so jealous in fact, that he has no choice but to confront his feelings for Will!”
Robin matched Lucas’s grin. “I get what you’re putting down Sinclair, and I am down for this.”
Erica looked slightly sceptical however. “So basically, we are playing with your friends’ feelings by making him feel like there is someone he has to compete against, in order to get Wills attention?”
“Well, no- not exactl- its more lik- “Lucas paused for a second, thinking. “Actually, yeah it’s exactly that.”
Erica’s grin could have rivalled both of theirs.
“Now THAT sounds fun, let’s do it”