Chapter Text
Mike rushes to dry his dishes off and put them back in their respected places in his cabinets and drawers.
His speakers in his living room blast the newest Butthole Surfers album, Electriclarryland, that had just come out 6 months ago.
Mike had been living alone in his apartment for around 3 to 4 years now. After graduating high school, Mike had to leave Hawkins. He decided to move not too far from his family. He moved to a nicer part of Detroit, Michigan. He had settled in an apartment and started writing.
After El, he attempted to date only two girls, but obviously, he couldn’t feel the bond that he felt with El with another girl. No, Never.
After moving, the rest of the party went their separate ways, and to be honest, they struggled with staying in touch nowadays. Mike doesn’t view this as a negative thing, given they do try to hangout on special occasions - like birthdays or holidays.
Dustin obviously attends college, making many new friends, while also doing great in his academics. He of course makes time for Steve, and when Robin isn't busy, they all hangout, but despite all the chaos, he still manages to keep in touch with his childhood friends from middle school and makes time for them too.
Lucus and Max moved to Illinois, and they bought a house together. Mike hasn't talked to them recently but he's sure they're busy.
And Will, He also moved to Illinois, and of course, he went to Chicago. Surprisingly - but not too much, Will and Mike have still been able to keep pretty good contact, despite it being nine years since they all went their separate ways.
Since Mike and Will usually talked on the phone at least once a week, it was usually more than that. They also decide to send each other letters because they really did miss out on doing so when Will was in California, so the many weekly phone calls and the somewhat frequent letters, Will has also dated a few times, trying to explore himself.
They would call for hours when their love life went too shit, because they were so close, so blissfully ignorant to the love that had been growing for each other for 20 years, and this love was nowhere near platonic.
Last time that Mike had called Will, Will had told Mike about his guy he had started seeing, and they had been talking for a few months and just started dating about a month ago.
Will over the phone seemed overjoyed, and Mike grinned at hearing the pure happiness in Will's voice, but he also felt this twist in his stomach, this dreadful feeling, and the worst part of it, he doesn't know why he feels this way.
So as Mike finishes up cleaning the kitchen, still hearing the butthole surfers playing, he goes to turn it down to go and clean the bathroom next, but when he slowly turns the volume down still singing along, he can hear a faint knock on the door.
He turns his head to the door in pure confusion. It was around 11pm at night, he wasn't expecting a delivery or guests. He stares at the door, eyes glued. A minute passes.
The song he was once singing along to ended and the cd had already moved onto the next track. Mike turns to face the cd player again, deciding his ears must be playing tracks on him, he goes to turn the volume up, but before we can do so hears another knock on the door, but this time it's louder, and it makes Mike jump away from the cd player.
He once again shoots daggers at his front door, but before Mike can even have a second thought about what was happening in that moment, he hears a loud enough choked sob come from the other side of the door.
“Mike?”
A familiar voice echoes through Mike's head. Will. Mike lunges for the front.
“Will!?”