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*18 months later*
[Ok so pretend the graduation happened and hopper had that chat with Mike about moving on]
-Will-
Will chuckled as Dustin threw his graduation cap, surprised yet not surprised at his nerdy little friends speech. He looked around to spot his friends doing the same, all grinning form ear to ear. He saw Lucas put his hand on maxes lap where max then layed her hand softly.
"Why has I been so stupid to think he could ever love me" he thought looking at the isle to his right. Nobody was sitting next to him there. Why couldn't he be like Lucas and Max.
"Oh yeah, I'm not like them, they still love me but never in this way"
The crowd was starting to shift as he began to be consumed by his own thoughts. His smile fading.
Suddenly he saw dusting running down the steps and he immediately plastered the grim back on his face through teary eyes and ran to Dustin to congratulate him. As he ran over he saw Mike looking lost.
"It must have been hard losing El, they were so close why did I even try with that stupid painting" he thought to himself angrily. He carried on anyway, hugging the others all the way back to the house. He was so glad mime had a better idea than that stupid party. He hates events like this,
"Mike... He is smart" "no that's stupid he told you just best friends" oh how he felt a glimpse of hope then when he said not friends. He thought it would be the moment, he thought the handsome boy with the black hair was going to say something else" As quickly as this thought started he got rid of it, after all he was stupid, delusional, idiotic. Mike was just his Tammy he knows this it's been over a year yet he feels so deeply connected still. It wasn't just a stupid crush, heck he still felt it in that room but the look mike gave him didn't confirm anything so he tried to forget. But the tower... NO
-Mike-
It was so chaotic there. He didn't know what to feel. El has bene gone so long and the guilt of never saying I love you back hung over him like a cloud about to burst into a waterfall.
"A waterfall" he thought out loud. "I promised el that, did I even ever mean it. It's just like every other campaign" he sighed and looked up at Dustin ripping open his gown to reveal his hellfire lives shirt. He chuckled and looked behind him to see if any of his friends did too, when he saw Max and Lucas being ever so happy together. He thought back to el. She had grabbed him and kissed him with such emotion that he just was a statue. He loved her but never said it. All he could do was cry her name as she was whisked away by the whirling void.
He thought back to hoppers conversion that convinced him to come here.
He needed to move on, but how, he wished things could have gone differently why couldn't he ever move on. His smile faded as people started gathering in huddles to laugh and celebrate.
El was his love who else could he ever love.
He closed is eyes just for a fleeting moment as all his friends held each other close. He realised. Blinking back tears, he turned to the group who had just been invited to a party.
"I have a better idea"
Maybe moving on meant reliving his past before this doomed love came to play. Sometimes even with her around he still felt it. That painting. El would never think of that but it still made him feel something. Not confusion, nor grossness. But it warmed his heart, he felt whole. He thought back to that demogorgan hovering above him snapping before falling to the ground, before he looked up and saw his best friends figure with piercing white eyes glaring right at him. No, not glaring. It was another look. A look of fear? Worry maybe. But he didn't think that deaply. He just knew he had the same feeling he felt before. But what was it that made his head spin so much.
When will said he didn't like girls he felt something else- he just stared at him and blinked away the confusing that began to cloud his vision. He loved el. No doubt about it but this just made him feel something else. Like someone had taken that feeling and amplified it. Why had he been so stupid. That look on wills face when he said not friends had never been more hopeful. But he couldn't help but notice the slight faulter when he said best friends. How could he do that to such a sweet boy. He's known him forever, they've always been there for each other. He couldn't cope with all these thoughts swimming in his head all while still thinking about what him and el could have been.
Suddenly he was snapped out of his trance by none other than will.
"Hey Mike, are you ok?" Mike looked up in confusion. They were at his house. When did they get here.
He was absent mindedly overthinking everything once again how was this even possibly.
He dismissed these thoughts and began to start the campaign.
-Will-
On their way back to mike's house will looked over at Mike. He was not a stupid little crush, he was not his "Tammy" Mike didn't even know who that was for god's sake. What a dumb thing to say. No it was more than this but will knew Mike was consumed by the loss of el. Infact he was slightly worried because Mike hadn't spoken a word the whole way home. Imfact he almost walked straight into oncoming traffic without hesitation. He was so absent minded that it almost made will laugh, if it were not for the aching pain that this perfect person could never be his. He put his hand to his cheek, feeling the years he felt in the pizza van after he stupidly showed Mike that goddamn painting, thinking it would change anything. He saw Johnathan in the mirror looking sad towards will. He knew, Johnathan knew. Heck argyle probably knew at this point that his life is one big mistake. He had called for him the moment Mike came rushing out to say goodbye after their first ever campaign all those years ago. That awkward smile and wavy hair could never escape his mind. But he was stupid, stupid,stupid. That painting was changing nothing.
Great now he was being just as absent minded, stupid fool. He may have saved the world and become a sourcer but that still didn't change how he was... Different. Infact it made it worse. Of it weren't for this crush he wouldn't have done anything that he did. This simple boy changed his life and he remembered and knew what to do. Now he feels lost. With vecna gone he is nothing again. Maybe, he thought, maybe he had a chance when he was just like el. When he had powers. But now the gate is closed he is just a simple freak again.
When they arrived at the byers house he tapped Mike on the shoulder becaus she was starting to worry.
Mike looked up like a startled cat. Before clearing his thought and introducing his knew campaign he had prepared.
-Mike-
The campaign was coming to a close and the others looked doomed. Nothing could help them, no special skill, not even a punch would wipe out the enemy. As he was about to announce the closure he saw will sit bold upright. A pang of fear shot down his spine as he thought the hive mind was close before remembering again. A tear found it's way to his cheek. No will was grinning this time anyway.
[Well you know what happened don't you]
He began to tell their characters futures, finally getting to will the wise he remembered hoppers words as they echoed I'm his head "move on"
"You- you will get what you want in life, you will find someone and live out the most beautiful life possible, fulfilling your dreams and discardin your fears as everyone will love you in your future"
He saw will look up to the sky, as if he was imaging a beautiful place filled with laughing friends, and most importantly a boyfriend".
Mike knew it now. That feeling, that feeling was love. He had it suppressed because El had stolen his heart long ago but it was always there, like a second heartbeat echoing through his bones. Now el was gone what's stopping him. He needs for move on. But does Will still want him or did he turn him away too harshly. El would want this, he was sure of it. She wouldn't want him mourning for the rest of his life, she had made a choice and was certain but he still refuses to believe it. But now will have him someone to turn to, not just a rebound, but truly turn to.
Suddenly someone looked up and asked what about the magez what would she be doing.
Mike smiled, a sad smile, but he still gave her the most beautiful ending possible. After all this mage that had saved the party today was El. Waterfalls, mountains, beauty and peace, you name it. This mage had it all. But it was time to move on. He would never see her again. As the party started to dismiss, lining their manuels on the shelf, possibly for the last time as a group Mike paused.
-Will-
He couldnt believe he had just won their campaign. His notes were scattered on the floor out of excitement as he had flicked through to find the spell.
But that mage was El, he was sure of it. Mike loved el and he couldnt do anything about that.
Smiling and laughing with the rest of the group he gathered up his stuff and placed it on the shelf next to the others. Mike was still staring at his campaign plan with a small but mournful smile. Will looked back at him before running up the stairs to enjoy the cold lasagne.
-Mike-
He walked up to the shelf where will just placed his. He stared at it. Wills name written in big bold letters, decorated so beautifully. He was truly an artist. He looked sad, everyone else did too but this felt different because it wasn't becaus of growing up and having to leave it behind. No this was because the look will gave him before running upstairs worried him again. Will thought he wouldn't have noticed but he did. And he wanted to stare right into his eyes and ask such a simple question but kept faultering inside. He felt like a cheater to el, even though he knew she wouldn't want him to be like this forever.
"Screw it"
He placed his thicker book next to the others and ran to the top of the stairs. Taking one last sad look at the board, where this all started before getting trampled by his exited sister and her class. They were too young to suffer he thought miserablely. I would never want them to feel this way again, nobody deverves mental torment.
Then it clicked.
That is what he is doing to himself. He rushed up the last couple of stairs and burst into the kitchen.
"MICHEAL CAREFUL" His mum yelled as he skidded round the corner to the table where the others were seated patiently.
"Right I've just heated this up again so you boys can- and max can enjoy a nice hot meal together"
They all nodded and mike's mum walked off looking back at the boys like she didn't recognise them anymore.
Mike turned to will and looked as he picked up his cutlery with careful movements and started slicing the lasagne.
-Will-
Mike had taken a while to get upstairs will pondered. He wished Mike could feel how he felt about Mike. Mike Mike Mike, that's all he could think about now. This d&d game had brought back everything. Everything he loved and lost and wished for. Mike the heart sad beside him in his usual spot at the wheelers table ever since they became best friends so long ago.
"Best friends" that's all he could think about why couldn't it be more.
This train of thought stopped when Mike awkwardly tapped him on his non lasagne fork holding hand with a small smile.
Wills heart fluttered. Could this be it? Before immediately beating himself up. This could never be it. He's just stupid for ever thinking that. He felt mike's warm breath on his ear as he whispered something. He could feel the piercing gaze of the others as if they knew something he didn't. He felt oblivious until the words "I have something to say" slipped out of mike's mouth.
He gasped before immediately shoving a forkful of lasagna in his mouth to disguise it incase he was once again having false hope.
-Mike-
Screw itz he thought to himself. He needed to say something to will because will would never say anything to him again now. He reached forwards towards wills closed first resting on the table and prodded him, playfully yet with a sense of gentleness. He knew what he had to say.
Leaning over her whispered in Wills ear the 5 words he had been thinking about all day. "I have something to say".
*After dinner*
Mike and Will were now sitting together in mike's room, not unlike they used to. Legs crossed, shoulder to shoulder so neither would fall off the bed since they were both used to little will always wriggling his feet and knocking them both over while sitting together. This felt so minor now because will was starting to notice mike's face softening every time he glanced at him. He couldn't make eye contact, neither of them could. Neithe rid them quite knew what was going to happen, both feeling doubt about how well it would go.
Mike opened his mound, grabbing wills hand.
Will instantly recoiled, ears feeling hot. That was so awkward why did Mike do that oh my god he thinks I still have a crush on him- I mean I do but that would change everything again. He panicked and out his hand back by mike's.
Mike wasn't shocked about the recoil, it just made him doubtful that after all this self pep talk it would still make a fool of himself.
So instead of saying anything her learnt towards will reaching out his other hand to wills free one.
Will immediately grabbed it back, starting to realise, for once maybe they were on the same wavelength.
Mike tried to talk again and coughed.
Will chuckled and nodded encouragingly.
The suspense was killing them both. They clutched each other ever so tightly, their fears and doubts slowly being washed away to reveal hope. Maybe will wouldn't end up alone after all. Infact was Mike taking about himself in will the wises story.
He didn't have time to process this before Mike breathed gently but hoursely
"I- I like guys too"
Will started to beam. He must have been dreaming
Mike continued more confidently following such a positive reaction from his once best friend
"I meant I also loved el don't get me wrong, but somewhere inside I knew it could never be. That picture you drew. I knew she would never request that. It was way too sentimental in a way that matched you and your own life. Mike the heart of the group, only you could come ho with such a silly little thing but I loved it. I felt weird and I have done so many times and know I know so I'm telling your oh my god will I'm so sorry I didn't say before. With el gone I needed somebody, somebody who understands me just as well. A comfort and a... A love"
Mike xolaped into wills arms shaking with pure courage, confusion and joy. He finally said what he needed to but was it sensible or did he just seem desperate.
"No-no Mike it's okay" chuckled will as if he read his mind.
Mike looked up and wills kind eyes and remembered how they had turned misty white as he focused on saving him. He loved him that was why. He couldn't leave his friends behind especially not Mike. The mike will thought he would never have a chance with. They felt like they shared their thoughts now. They understood what each other was feeling.
"Mike, without you I would never have had the strength to do any of this. You were the pillar which kept me connected to myself while vecna fought back. I thought of you every time. I'm some weird way, you saved the world. I was worried vecna would use this as a weakness so I had to tell you all but I knew- well I thought I knew you were just my Tammy..."
Mike stopped him midway through his tearful rant by leaning in. She touched is nose against wills and leant forward. Will followed gently. They closed their eyes in bliss. After all that worry it had worked out for both of them. Will made the move this time and placed his lips upon mike's. He had never kissed anyone before. He panicked for a moment because Mike was basically an expert by now withl El and all. He's seen max kiss Lucas before too so he closed his eyes and tried to copy. But Mike had xouhht on and led him. It was warm, not sloppy or disgusting but comforting. Like mike's arms wrapped around his shoulders and the heat swooshing around his cheeks and ears. Mike felt wills lips on his and smiled. It felt right. They embraced for a while before someone spoke.
"I love you Mike wheeler" smiled will through tears of relief and joy
"I love you too, Will" spoke Mike, he had never said he loved anyone like this before. Not even- he stoppe hiself. No this was his new life. He needed to move on.
Will smiled, Mike smiled. The lay down together and laughed throught the night