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Will knew.
He knew what he had to do. Did he want to? No, definitely not. He wasn’t really. At least, he wasn’t ready to tell everyone. Will was ready to tell his mom.
His brother.
His friends.
Mike…
He’s still a bit iffy on that last one but Will spent the last five minutes in the bathroom hyping himself up. He heard the scrape of metal against metal as the group loaded up the truck. Guns and ammo are being stuffed into the truck, the truck that will carry them into the abyss of The Upside Down.
Dark and dank. Thunder and lightning cracking every seven seconds as Will felt it infiltrating his nervous system, making him leap. Even though Will knows that the lightning will strike down on the black tentacles surrounding him, the crackling noise makes Will’s life flash before his eyes every single time. It brings up memories. Disgusting, horrendous memories.
Will looked at himself in the mirror, taking a deep breath as his hand lay on the glass.
“You can do this, William. Tell them.”
Will nodded before stepping out of the bathroom, pulling his sleeves over his hands as he made his way to the door. Will's mom was standing in the doorway, watching everyone pack up. Will took the opportunity to pull her aside, stressing that he needed to tell her the truth. They walked to the couches and Will spilled his heart. Though, he only got to spill a quarter of it before Mike walked in, informing them that they needed to leave soon.
This was a sign.
Will needed to tell them.
His family.
He picked them out with a shoulder tap.
Lucas, Max, Dustin, El, his mother, Jonathan, Hopper, Nancy, Robin, and of course, Mike. Will sat on the yellow WSQK chair, the rough fibers scratching his pants as he shifted uncomfortably, toying with his fingers while refusing to make eye contact with anyone.
“I-i haven't told any of you this because I-i don't want you to s-see me differently. But, the truth is, I am…I am. different.” He started, looking up for a brief moment before his eyes shifted to the wall.
“I just pretended like I wasn’t because I didn’t wanna be. I-I wanted to be like everyone else. I wanted to be like my friends. And…and I am like you. I'm like you in almost every way.” Will stuttered out, his eyes shifting from the wall and making their rounds around the group before landing on Mike.
“W-we like playing D&D late into the night and we like that old person smell in Mike’s basement. A-and we like biking to Melvald’s for malted milkshakes. And we like getting lost in the woods, and getting lost in Family Video, and arguing about what to rent and settling on “Holy Grail” for the millionth time.” Will’s eyes crinkled as his mouth turned into a smile, the waiver in his voice unmistakable for him being on the brink of breaking down but Will couldn't help but smile.
“And…and we like Milk Duds in our popcorn with extra butter. And we like drinking Coke with Pop Rocks. And we like bike races and trading comics and NASA and Steve Martin and Lucky Charms and…literally all the same things!” Will stressed, his hands moving faster than his mouth as tears started to spill.
“I just…I just…I…I…just…I…I…I don't like girls.”
Will said it.
He had actually said it.
His voice cracked on girls, knowing that it was risky to say and would maybe ruin everything, but he said it. Will was immediately taken back to his childhood. Back when people would call him those disgusting things. A “fairy” or a “fag”. How we couldn’t tell anyone about it because he would out himself. But now, Will felt as if a massive weight had been lifted off his shoulders. The air in his lungs seemed to finally be clear of whatever mind control Vecna had on him.
Robin was right.
The feeling was euphoric.
“I-i mean, I do just…just not like you guys do. My feelings for them have never been and never will be romantic. I’ve known that since I was a child. But recently, someone told me how to be cool with that. “ Will smiled, his eyes shifting to Robin as she let out a quiet sob, a dead giveaway.
“I, uh, I love someone. And I’ve known that I’ve loved him ever since childhood but I could never speak up because I knew he would never love me back. At least, not in the way that I love him. But now, I’m coming to grips with that. Yes, I probably won’t get over him easily, but in due time, maybe.” Will smiles, the corners of his mouth wobbling a bit as he tries his hardest not to stare at Mike.
“Though I’ve realized something, I’m not different. Because what I am and who I love is…it’s normal. It’s the same way you love Max, Lucus. And it's the same way you love Hopper, mom.” Will explains, his mother's hand reaching out to lace her fingers with Will’s, a watery smile on her face.
“T-that’s all…”
The room is silent for a moment before Jonathan stands up, walking over to Will, and enveloping him in a hug. It's warm and secure. Will finally let his tears break through his waterline as he sobs into his brother‘s shoulder, and Jonathan kisses his head.
“I'm so proud of you,” Jonathan whispers, pulling back as his thumbs swipe away Will’s tears. Soon after, his mom wraps Will in an embrace twice as hard.
“I knew, baby. I knew for so long.” She laugh cries, kissing his face as the salty sting of tears coats her lips.
Will was on cloud 9.
“Guess you didn't need truth serum, huh?” Robin beams, wiping her tears with the back of her hand.
After many, many hugs, everyone had something to add to the conversation. Max remarks that she always had a feeling and Dustin brought up how he noticed that Will would only talk about male actors when the inevitable “celebrity crush” question came up when they were children.
Though, out of everyone, Mike stayed quiet. A crease between his brows as his eyes were distant, glossed over as if he was in a different dimension. He just sat on the couch, deeply engrossed in a conversation that no one else could hear. One that he was having with himself. Slowly, his eyes refocused as he put two and two together.
Quickly, he stood from his seat and pulled on Will’s sleeve.
“Will, could I talk with you for a second?”
The basement of the WSQK was silent except for the pacing of Mike Wheeler. He bit at his nails before stopping, looking directly at Will.
“First, I'm sorry for not saying anything. I-i was…thinking. I'm really happy for you Will, and proud. That took guts.” Mike smiles, though it quickly fades as the real reason he'd brought them down here is lingering in the air.
“Thank you.” Will nods, wiping any stray tears away from his cheeks.
“But that's not the reason I brought you down here.”
“Yeah.”
“I-I…uh, what…what you said back there. About the guy you love that's...that was about me. Wasn't it…” Mike sighs, looking up at him.
Will stiffens, his eyes snapping to the ground his he feels tears pricking in his eyes. He bites them back, taking a deep shaky breath before responding.
Will knew.
He knew he had to tell Mike the truth. Even if he lied, Mike would know. That’s the pros and cons of being friends with someone for 10 years. For being in love with someone for 10 years…
“Y-yeah…it…it was…” Will chokes out, somehow bringing himself to look up at Mike. The expression on his face is unreadable, but his eyes are glossed again. Distant.
He's thinking.
Hard.
“The painting...”
Will’s heart dropped.
“I'm so fucking stupid…” Mike breathes out, running a hand down his face.
“Will, the painting you made. That wasn't because El told you to. You made that for me. You…you were confessing to me.” Mike's voice carried a tone of realization. Though, the self-deprecation for not noticing sooner lay beneath it.
Why does he have to be so smart…
“Y-you figured it out, huh?” Will stuttered out, failing to hold back his tears as they started to fall.
Mike noticed Will’s sobs and he was over by him in seconds, hugging Will tightly as he sobbed into Mike’s shoulder.
“Will, I'm so sorry. I’m sorry for not noticing sooner. I'm sorry for not being there for you. I'm sorry for not just…fucking talking to you.” Mike apologizes, shaking his head as he tucks it into Will’s neck. They stay like that for a while, hugging and crying as unspoken emotions resurface.
Mike pulls back, looking at Will’s tear-streaked face and red nose. He glances at Will’s lips before looking back up at him. It's not subtle, it’s purposeful.
“Will…I don't want you to get over me…”
Will leans in to Mike, mirroring his eye movement.
“Because I'm not over you…” Mike whispered, leaning into Will as their mouths met in the middle.
It's messy and broken but full of love. Full of unrequited feelings finally being shared. Full of years of too-long touches and sideways glances that felt like more than friendly. Mike's hand came up to cup Will’s face as he deepened the kiss. After a moment, Mike pulls back, panting.
“I’ve always loved you…I just couldn't articulate it. But you, Will, your speech, and what you said. You made me realize. I like girls a-and…i-i like guys. I love you.” Mike mumbles out, looking back up at Will.
Will let out a sob, putting a hand over his mouth as he beamed.
“I love you too,” Will whispers, placing his forehead against Mike’s.