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Will watches, teary-eyed as Dustin puts up his book. The sticky letters on the spine of it frayed at the edges from years upon years of use.
His own book is heavy in his hands, his childhood, all about to be put away, left to collect dust on a shelf in the Wheelers' basement. He watches Dustin ascend the stairs, going to join Lucas for one last dinner after their campaign, as a party.
Mike had told them all about their own endings, their characters' lives after the campaign. Even his own ending. A tear rolls down his cheek. Mike had given Will the ending of self-acceptance, getting over his childhood love, and finding himself elsewhere. Finding love, a love different from what he'd always wanted.
His breath is shaky as he raises his arm to put his book up. He hesitates, for a moment, he hesitates.
When he turns around, Mike is already looking right back at him.
"Will—"
"Mike—"
They say each other's names at the same time, staring at each other through tears.
Mike speaks first, "Will—" His breath is uneven, and he takes a step closer, just a foot or two away from Will. "When I said that— that Will the Wise," Mike stutters through his words, fighting himself to look at Will.
Mike's fingers clutch at his own book, tracing over the letters on the spine.
"That he would— would find happiness and acceptance in that faraway land." Will stares wide-eyed at the man in front of him, shaking through his words. "I never stopped to think if that's what he really wanted, in the end."
Mike sets his book back down on the table, the trinkets and maps still laid out from their campaign. He steps closer, taking one of Will's hands in his own. Will's breath hitches.
"Is— is that what you really want?"
Will frowns, tears pooling in the corners of his eyes. He stares down at their hands, and Mike's thumb traces over his knuckles. His own fingers tremble at the soft touch.
"No—" Will forces the words out through sobs, letting his own book fall to the ground as he grabs Mike's hand in both of his. "That's not what I want, Mike. I want—"
Will doesn't have to finish his sentence; Mike finishes it for him. Mike closes the gap between them, pressing his lips to Will's. Will freezes where he stands as Mike kisses him, and he almost wonders if this isn't real, just a dream. Maybe he hasn't graduated. Maybe none of this has happened at all.
Mike pulls away, his eyes wide and teary. They, the other man's dark eyes, remind him that he is real, this moment is real. He can have this.
"Will?—" Mike gasps as Will presses their lips together again.
"Shut up," Will mumbles against Mike's lips, arms coming to wrap around his neck. "Just shut up."
Mike melts against Will, hands coming to cup his face in his hands. He kisses Will like a starved man, like Will is his only sustenance on a deserted island.
When they separate, Mike brings his arms down to Will's waist, holding him there for a moment.
"Will, I'm sorry—" Mike starts, looking off to the side instead of at Will. "I'm sorry that I— that I couldn't tell you sooner. That I was too scared."
Will smiles softly, tears staining his rosy cheeks. He brings a hand to Mike's cheek, turning his face back toward him.
"I'm just glad that I finally have you, Mike."
Mike leans forward to rest his forehead against Will's, both of them smiling at each other.
Mike's grin is the only warning Will gets before he is momentarily lifted into the air, Mike squeezing him tight around his middle.
"Mike— oh my god— put me down!" Will giggles, holding tight onto Mike's shoulders.
Mike puts him down, smiling warmly at him again. "Sorry, I've been wanting to do that for so long."
Will leans in to capture Mike's lips again, this time tilting his head to deepen the kiss. Mike practically melts into him, his hands coming to rub small circles into his hips. Will wishes this moment would never have to end. Will parts his lips slightly, inviting Mike in. Mike takes the invitation, licking and nipping at his bottom lip.
"Boys?! Are you coming upstairs?" Karen yells from the kitchen.
Mike doesn't pull back immediately like Will would have expected; he goes in further, licking into Will's mouth. His hands on his hips tighten, gripping at the fabric of his shirt.
Will has to be the one to pull back, having to catch his breath for a moment.
"C'mon, they're all waiting for us," Will says softly, toying with the short curls at the nape of Mike's neck.
Mike frowns at him, sighing, "I guess."
They hold each other for a moment longer, until Karen's insistent yells force them to break apart.
Even if it was all over, Vecna, high school, the party, they still had each other. Will had Mike after all these years. Will smiles as he walks up the stairs, the rest of the party already settled in their seats at the dining table.
Mike and Will sit side by side at the dining table, smiling softly at one another. Mike's hand comes to grab his under the table.
It was never a crush, never was Mike just Will's Tammy. This was real, this was what Will needed.
And he finally had it.