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They were in the upside down now, Will was uneasy he hadn't really been here since that terrible week he'd kill to forget. Though he couldn't let his past cloud his mind he needed to focus on the mission at hand. Save Holly and the other kids, and kill Vecna once and for all, putting a stop to this nightmare. They drove to the radio shack so they could use the radio tower but since he really didn't have anything to do until they finished building he was killing time inside, thinking over how different life would be once they win. Apparently Will wasn't the only one with this idea. Mike came into the room where Will was slouching on the couch. When he looked up to meet the boy’s eyes something was off.
“Mike?” Will called out, Mike started walking towards the couch not uttering a word he sat down beside the brunette. “Is everything Oka-”
“Why'd you lie to me?” Mike looked over, he sounded hurt. Will had never heard this tone come from the other before.
“What?” Lie about what? Will didn't understand what Mike was talking about, unless he was accusing Will of lying about being gay he couldn't pinpoint a lie.
“In Lenora, the painting” He looked back down to his hands fidgeting in his lap “You told me El commissioned it, that she needed me and how I was the heart and it was all a lie” Mike’s voice started to crack “Why'd you lie to me?”
“Mike, it wasn't like that I didn't want to I just-” Will took a deep breath “I just- I didn't want to freak you out or anything I mean we barely talk for 6 months then I give you a painting out of nowhere. I didn't want you to get the wrong idea” Why now? Why out of all the times to bring this up he chooses now where the world is on the brink of collapse.
“I guess I just don't understand why you'd think that” Mike finally had the courage to make eye contact with Will.
“Well you were acting weird all summer Mike so sorry I assumed we weren't that close anymore” Will hated how he sounded so whiny saying that. They both had separate lives and Mike had El. He couldn't be upset that he wasn't all Mike focused on anymore.
“I'm sorry about that by the way” Mike's voice was low, timid it was as if he was scared to be admitting this.
“It was 2 years ago Mike it's really fine” The last thing Will was in the mood for was a reminder of that hell of a summer. Especially not right now, not while he's here.
“No, it's not fine” Mike turned his whole body to face Will “I treated you like shit for no reason and what I said to you in the rain”
“Mike you don't have to-” Will almost wanted to beg Mike to stop talking. To turn around and pretend this never happened.
“No, just- just let me say this please” Will nods, the faster he agreed the quicker it would be over “I feel like shit for saying that to you and especially because you're… You know” Will’s jaw clenched. He's not doing this, not right now.
“Oh, that's what this is about” Will's face was hard to see in the upside down darkness, but his emotion was clear with speed at which those words flew out his mouth.
“What?” Will couldn't believe Mike was this dunce. Who brings that shit up at a time like this? Did he expect Will to just sit there and listen to some bullshit pity apology? Maybe he would've considered it if Mike didn't pause. He hesitated, shit he couldn't even say the damn word.
“You feel guilty now because you know I'm gay, right?” Will bit the inside of his cheek trying to fight back the embarrassment he felt growing inside him.
“Will it's not-” Mike tried to reach out and grab Will’s arm, but he pulled away.
“No it's fine Mike I don't need an apology” Will got up from the couch. He could feel tears sting his eyes. “Like you said, it's not your fault I don't like girls”
“Will no-” Before Mike could finish Will stormed out the room. He needed to calm down, being vulnerable like this made him an easy target for Vecna and if that's the reason they failed their mission it would prove Vecna right all along, Will really was just a weak vessel.
He felt so stupid, not only did he just come out in front of the whole damn squad, but this was the second time he's hinted to Mike about his feelings and not even a pity rejection, just confusion. “Will? Are you alrig-” Robin came from around the corner, she paused when she saw Will on the floor sobbing into his lap. She sat down beside him bringing him in for a side hug. Out of everyone here she knew what it was like, how scary it was, how painful it is.
“Do you want to talk about it?” She asked quietly after the boy's sobs got quieter. He didn't answer, he couldn't. Will shook his head no as he took comfort in Robin's embrace.
Mike knew he was an idiot that wasn't exactly a secret but he didn't know he was this clueless. How didn't he know? How could he not tell? He and Will have been friends for years and he couldn't see the signs? Except the more he thought the more he realized he did see the signs, but not in the way he wanted to. Not in the way he should've. Mike couldn't pinpoint exactly when it happened or why, but at some point in their friendship he freaked out, distanced himself. It's not that he wanted to hurt Will he just couldn't-
“Mike, are you good?” Johnathan was standing in the doorway, he had been watching Mike pace for the past minute.
“Yes” He continued to pace back and forth “No” He fell back onto the couch yelling in his hands.
“Is there something on your mind?” Johnathan walks over and sits on the couch. Mike tried to answer but the words couldn't form. Johnathan was actually good at reading people, especially Mike since he practically grew up with him. “Is this about what Will said earlier?” Mike nodded. “I know you're not homophobic, so what's the-” He paused when he saw Mike tear up. Mike hated crying, he hated feeling vulnerable. It made him feel stupid.
“Oh” Johnathan finally understood why the boy was upset. He almost immediately pulled Mike into a hug. This was the final straw, Mike broke down he hadn't done this in years. It was like every emotion was spilling out and he was helpless to stop it, and out of everything this could've happened in front of it happened to be Johnathan.
Once Mike was able to catch his breath he pulled back from the hug. Tears were still streaming, but he was able to form sentences now.
“I'm sorry, I- I didn't- I just” Mike tried to wipe the incoming tears away. He didn't plan on anyone finding out like this, he didn't plan on anyone finding out at all.
“Does anyone know?” Johnathan asked softly. Mike shook his head. “Are you going to tell anyone?”
“I- I don't- I- what if- my parents they don't-” Mike could feel the emotions bubbling back up.
“Well you know that me and your friends and Nance, we’ll be there for you no matter what” Mike knew this, but the reassurance felt good. “I know it's scary as shit, but I think you need to tell Will”
“I tried and I screwed everything up, he ran out of here”
“Well how'd you say it?”
“Well I was going to apologize for the summer and what I said to him and I was going to tell him that I was just scared”
“Then he walked out and you let him?” Johnathan stood off the couch and pulled Mike up with him. “Look, you're going to go find him and explain yourself and then we're going to kill this Vecna dude and then I'm going to kill you for hurting my brother” He patted his back and pushed him out the door.
After a bit of searching Mike found Will, he was sitting at the coffee table sketching something.
“Even when the world is ending you still find time to draw” Mike chuckled. Will could hear something off with his tone but he was still too irritated to question it.
“I mean we still had some time to kill” Will didn't look up from his drawling.
“It's really cool” Mike nervously scratched the back of his neck.
“Mike, I'm not sure what you're-”
“Will, I'm really sorry for how I treated you that summer. I was just so confused because I-” He took a breath. “You and El it was just- I didn't know how to- It was-”
“Mike, what are you talking about?”
“Will, I don't know how to- I'm not brave like you are I can't-” Mike started to choke up.
“Mike?” Will stood up and walked over to the boy.
“And when you said you had this crush, you- You looked at me and I-”
“mike I wasn't-”
“And for a second I thought- I guess I just thought that you were talking about me” Will was taken aback at this, was Mike being serious?
“I- I wasn't”
“I don't buy that”
“Well Mike I-”
“I don't want to just be your crush or your Tammy whatever the hell that means” Mike chuckled through his tears that started to fall. Will stood stunned; he couldn't believe this was happening.
“I want to be your Mike, I- I don't want you to move on because I- I-” Mike was cut off when Will pulled him into a kiss.
“You talk a lot Mike” Will chuckled softly, looking at the flustered boy. All Mike could do was smile.
“You forgive me?”
“Mm I'm not sure let me see again”