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,, You were amazing! Like...truly AMAZING! You looked like a superhero."
Mike didn't stop talking since they were back inside, safe. He is so thrilled that his best friend has powers that he cannot stop himself from moving. This is so exciting! Will, the weakest of them all, is actually the strongest. Who would have thought?
,, Mike..."
,, And when you wiped your nose, just like Eleven does. No, you did it differently. Sort of. Anyway....You were amazing!! Did I say that?"
,, Yeah, in the last 15 minutes it was the only thing that you keep saying." says Will with a shy smile on his face.
,,I am sorry; I repeat myself like a broken record. But you were AMAZING, Will Byers! How did you manage to do it? I mean, now. Why now?"
Will is looking at Mike with a tender look on his face. He knows the reason. There were many, actually. And Mike was one of them.
,, All of you were in danger. I felt...I felt the need to protect you. I saw everything through demos'eyes. I saw you....helpless, so close to death that...I knew I had to do something. And I did."
,, You really saved us all. I don't know if I said thank you, so...." Mike gets closer and wraps his arms around Will's body in a warm hug ,, ... thank you, my friend. I owe you life."
Will gulps. He tries to hide his tears. He tries to hide his feelings. Once again, even after he showed who he is, he is afraid in front of Mike.
,, You owe me nothing."
He hoped that Mike would step away now, but he seemed to have tightened his wrap. Will doesn't know if he can stop himself much longer.
,, I owe you everything. Thank you for being my best friend, Will," says Mike, holding him closer. Will wraps his hands around him, too.
,, Always."
And this could have ended here. This could have been the same as always. Nothing would have changed. But when Mike let go of the embrace, and Will could see clearly into his eyes...he couldn't stop. His hand worked practically by itself and rested on Mike's cheek, who was looking extremely confused and nervous. His face had its own will because it kept getting closer to Mike's face. Will could feel his breath on his lips now. Mike was panting.
,, Will, I..."
His mouth didn't stop when he touched Mike's. When it felt his soft lips. When his hand held gently the back of his neck. So he pressed his lips on Mike's lips and did what he wanted since he had first known what a kiss is: kissed Mike.
Mike was shocked. He couldn't move, he couldn't blink, he couldn't breathe. He felt that his heart stopped for a second. What is Will doing? Why is he kissing him? He imagined that his friend's feelings were a little bit different from Lucas and Dustin's, but he had never expected that Will...that he...Will deepens the kiss. It's like he is putting all of his life into that. Mike doesn't know what's going on, but he closes his eyes and leans into the kiss. Why? Why is he doing this? Suddenly, Will moves, and his mouth opens a little, and Mike panics. He opens his eyes and takes 2 stepts back. Will is looking at him with his big, puppy eyes, scared. He doesn't want to hurt him, but...
,, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?"
And he leaves. He leaves the barn, leaving Will alone and confused.
,, Are you ok?"
,, I... I think I have found my Tammy, Robin."
Robin hugs Will with all her heart. She knows how it feels like.
,, Everything will be fine, kiddo. It's his loss, not yours."
Night came fast and everyone tried to find a good spot to sleep. No one wanted privacy, not after everything that had happened. Jonathan and Nancy were sleeping close to Dustin, Lucas and Erica. Joyce and Steve were sleeping on the other side of the barn, next to Mike and Will, who were on opposite sides now. Joyce wanted to sleep next to Will, but he said that he wanted to be as alone as possible. He needed that. She didn't ask any more questions. She saw Mike leaving the barn quickly so her mother heart imagined that something very important must have happened, but she didn't want to cross any lines. When Will wants to speak, he will.
Will doesn't think he can sleep this night. The image of a shocked, petrified Mike is constantly on his mind. What did he do? He ruined everything.
,, Hei."
It can be...? Will turns his head. Mike is standing on feet, next to him.
,, Can I?" shows the spot next to Will.
,, Yes."
Mike did. ,, Hey."
,, You already said that."
,, Yeah, I did."
Will turned around to face Mike.
,, Do you want to talk about..?"
,, No."
,, Ok."
,, I... I didn't know that you..." started Mike, trying to lie Will. To himself.
,, I think you knew." said Will calmly.
,, I... I imagined... what... we...you.."
Will raises an eyebrow. ,, Yes, me, I like boys. You don't. I get it."
,, No, it's just..'
,, No?"
,, I mean..."
Mike is acting very weird. Why is he panting?' thinks Will. He has never seen Mike like this. What does he think?
,, Mike, I don't want to lose you. As a friend, I mean. If you... I understand, you don't feel the same. It's alright," he says, closing his hand over Mike's. ,, I can be your friend even with that. I've done it all these years, I can still do it."
,, All...years?"
,, Yes."
,, For how long?"
,, For ever, I think."
,, For...and you...El....me and her.."
,, I don't care. I mean...I DO care, but... I can handle it. I just want you in my Life, I..."
And Will stops. He has to. He cannot talk anymore because his mouth was being shut by Mike's, who has just pressed his lips against Will's. He is the one trying to deepen the kiss this time.
,, What are you...?"
,, Just checkin'. Good night."
GOOD NIGHT? Will holds him by the sleeve. ,, Checking what? If you like guys? With me? Are you crazy, Mike?"
,, Will, please..."
,, Please what? You don't come kissing me like this, saying that you're checking. What are you doing? What do you want?"
Mike sighs. He doesn't know what he wants in general, but he knows what he wants now. And he does it.
,, Mike..." says Will through the kiss. Mike looks him in the eyes, gulps, and presses his lips against Will's, who doesn't fight anymore.
And they kiss. Again. And again.
After some moments, Mike stops.
,, Good night, William."
,, Good night, Michael."
Everyone is gathered in a circle, eating breakfast. They found some cans and eggs, and Joyce made a really good breakfast for everyone. Mike and Will are sitting face-to-face.
,, So...you, lover-birds, can't contain yourselves, not even when the world is ending. God, I'd wish to be 20 again, acting like a complete fool and being praised for that. If I am doing a stupid thing now, people call me an idiot'' says Murray. Everyone is looking confused.
,, What? I am talking with you, boy," says he, looking at Jonathan, who points at himself,Me?' very confused. ,, Yes, you. You were smooching with this girl like a crazy last night." a loud gulp is heard,, Do not want to break your heart, boy.'' adds Murray looking at Steve. ,, But it was annoying."
,, But I..." starts Jonathan, but he stops. He looks at his brother, whose face is completely red. He takes a quick look at Mike too, who is eating like a robot. ,, ... I... am sorry." he looks at Nancy, hoping that she'd understand. She does.
,, We do."
,, Well, I hope I will be able to sleep this night. Thank you for breakfast, Joyce. It seems that you're not as bad as a cooker as Hop was saying. Or I am just hungry. Going to check the van."
Immediately after Murray exits, Will sighs quietly. His peace is, instead, disturbed by Erica.
,, So, who was it? I know you were not kissing, I can read it on your faces. You fools do not know how to lie. So? Was it you, lover-boy? Acting in love with the curly-haired right here to hide your endless love towards Robin?"
,, What?!? No, never. She is.....not my type."
,, Well, someone was kissing, and I want to know..."
,, MIKE."
Everyone turns around. They know this voice.
,, EL!"
El came back.
,, Hop!' Joyce goes straight into his arms.
Mike goes hugging El too. She kisses him. Will starts playing with the food. Jonathan is watching his brother with worried eyes.
,, You're good. No attack while we were gone?"
Mike feels lost. What's happening? El's kiss felt like....well, like...nothing.
,, Well.." he starts looking at Will.
And they say El and Hop the whole story.
,, Wow! Will!" she hugs Will. He hugs her back. Will loves El. She is like a sister to him. But he also happened to love El's boyfriend. ,, How are you? How do you feel?"
,, I'd say weird, but...I feel like I have finally shown who I am."
El holds his hand. ,, You'll be fine."
,, Yes, I will."
At night, everyone is still talking. El is practically glued to Mike. Will needs air. He goes straight into the forest. What is he doing? He has no right to be jealous. This is wrong. El is his friend. Mike is his friend. He cannot do this. He..
,, Will!"
Will turns around, frightened when he feels a hand on hisshoulder.
,, What. What do you want? Why are you here? El is there waiting for you. Go to her."
,, Will...."
,, No. No Will. El. Only El. She is your girlfriend. She is in love with you. And you with her. I am..just leave me alone!"
,, WILL!'
,, What?"
And he kisses him. Will is tired of this game. He pushes Mike.
,, No, you don't do this. You won't play this game with me. Don't play with my feelings, Mike. Don't play with El's feelings. We don't deserve this."
,, I know. Please, just once..let me do it. And then, I promise you. No more games."
Will leta him. Mike's kiss feels like a soft breeze of spring. Soft, full of fresh air and perfume. It is like the missing piece of himself. Mike kisses him without stopping. He opens his mouth. Will lets him. The kiss is full of passion and affection. They fit so well with each other. It's like they are the two halves of the same piece. Mike is everywhere, and Will doesn't want to let him go. He wants..
,, Mike?"
They break up scared. No. They know this voice. This shouldn't have happened this way.
,, El..."
El goes running, crying. She is shuttered.
,, Go after her," says Will
And Mike does.
Will stays behind for a while. He cannot face El.
When he returns, El is waiting for him outside the barn. Will cannot look into her eyes.
,, El, I... I am sorry" he cries, hugging her, and she cries too, on his shoulder.
,, I know. It’s alright."
,, No, it's not. I should have told you, I should.."
,, Will, is ok. I understand. I...had a feeling. For how long?"
,, Since I've met him. He is..the only love that I have ever known. I would never take hima way from you."
El smiles. ,, I have talked to Mike. Maybe you should too. He is inside. And, Will...it's ok. Really. "
Will goes inside. Mike is there waiting for him, just like El said.
,, Hey."
,, Hey. Did you talk to her?"
,, Yes" says Will,, She is...way too good for what people did to her."
,, She is. She is amazing. She deserves all the love."
,, And you...will give it to her, right?"..
Mike gets closer to Will.
,, I will. I love El. With all my heart. She was my first love. I will always love her."
Will is on point of crying.
,, But..I don't think she is my true love."
What?
,, What?"
,, I...I told you that I needed to check. And after... no more games. I checked. I know now. It's you. It was always you. My true love...that's you, Will Byers."
Will is dead?
,, What..?"
,, What? That's all you can say?" says Mike, wrapping his arms around Will. The boy cannot stop his tears.
,, I..."
,, I am sorry for breaking your heart so many times. I hope that you will allow me to pull it back together from now on. If everything will be ok with Vecna and stuff."
,,...but..El.."
,, She gave us her approval."
Will turns around and sees El, who nods, smiling.
,, I... I love you. I always did. And I will always will."
,, I love you too, nerd."
And they hug, while everyone is looking at them. The others tried to look away at the beginning[excepting Erica, who made it very clear she wants to know who kissed the previous night], talking or playing, to give them privacy, but now everyone is at the barn entrance.
,, You can come in now. Thank you for letting me talk to Will in private."
Hopper hugs El,, Are you ok, kiddo?"
,, He loved him all his time, watched Mike and I ...he never said a word. He loved me too. I will be, Hop...if you stay by my side."
,, Always, kiddo, always."
,, Is everything ok, now?" asks Joyce with her maternal worry.
,, Yes, mom. Everything is great."
,, So, Erica," starts Mike,, about last night..you want to know who was kissing, right/'
,, Oh, there's no need to. It's pretty obvious. Just don't do it this night too or, at least, not inside.I cannot hear this bald, grumpy old man complaining again."
,, I WILL SMACK YOU SOMEDAY, KID!"
,, Just try it, I dare you!"
Evryone starts laughing. Yes, now, everything will be just fine.