Chapter Text
The sound of the keyboard echoed in the room as Michael wrote his novel, a reflection of all he’s been through, but it was also a reflection of what he would have wanted to happen at the end.
He made a pause and took off his glases, massaging the frown that had formed, and before he could notice, tears started to fell to the floor.
In his novel, the protagonist, a Paladin, finally stayed with the powerful spellcaster, he couldn’t yet decide which type it was, it didn’t matter, he could just edit his novel when finished.
The words told a story of love, but this one had a happy ending, where the warrior and his love made it alive and together. Now, he was writing a sequel, where the paladin and the spellcater traveled to the dream land to live together as promised.
Mike, however, decided that this was more than enough for today, so he stood up and went to change clothes to hang out with his friends and someone Will wanted to introduce to them.
—This is Markus—Will smiled, taking his boyfriend’s hand in his—He’s my… we are dating.
All of his friends smiled, they were proud, but also surprised.
—Will, that’s great!—Lucas hugged him and then patted the guy’s shoulder before shaking hands with him—Nice to meet you, Markus!
The young man smiled and reciprocated Lucas’ greeting before Max came to him to greet him as well, and then Dustin. Mike, however, just stood in there, watching Markus in shock.
Awkwardly, William’s partner reached to Mike to greet him just like the others, extending his hand to him.
—Nice to meet you- umh…
It took a few seconds for Mike to respond.
—Mike. Michael. Nice to meet you too, Markus, is… nice to meet you…
Will immediately noticed the uncomfortable tension between the two of them so he stepped in and rested a hand on his boyfriend’s shoulder with a gentle smile on his face dedicated solely and only to this new guy, then he looked at Mike, and to Markus again.
Michael observed every second of it as he let go and walked away to be near his friends, as if he needed protection.
—I’m happy you guys finnally meet him, i don’t know why… why i kept him hidden, i guess I’m still getting used to… being myself—The young man said, looking tenderly at his boyfriend before turning to look at his friends again—.
Max smiled, just like Lucas and Dustin.
—Okay, yes, we get it, guys, you’re really in love—The girl joked, folding her arms as she observed the couple with a little smile—.
The Wheeler, however, couldn’t help but notice this feeling in his gut, and it wasn’t something he liked at all. Yet, he didn’t say a thing, following from behind while his friends chatted happily and got to know Markus, Will’s boyfriend, partner.
—Hey, is everything okay?—Lucas asked when, after hours, they were finally left alone at the arcade, genuine concern on his voice—.
—Yeah, is just…—Mike sighed, watching the other three of them play excitedly while screaming and laughing—That guy… Markus… there’s something about him… I don’t know, i don’t like him.
—What!? He’s awesome! He is funny, and very cool, and really likes D&D!
—I know! But… I- I don’t know, okay!? I just. Don’t. Like him!
They stayed silent for a second, watching the rest of the group.
—Don’t you think they are going too fast? I mean, they’ve been together for some months and he already told Robin and Steve! And-And he treats him like they’ve known forever, being all lovely like they’re going to get married!
—Yeah but, what’s wrong with that? You and El did the exact. same.
—It’s different!
—Why is it different, Mike? Because Will is gay? Or because you’re jealous?
Michael opened his eyes in surprise, speechless, shocked.
—W-what? No- Lucas, what are you saying?
—Come on, Mike, don’t play dumb with me, you did the exact same when we meet Max! You get all jealous when any of your friends gets a partner.
—Oh. Ooh—Mike mumbled, realizing he had misinterpreted what Lucas meant.
—Oh, Ooh—His friend mimicked mockingly—.
—Well- I- I don’t want to lose my friends, okay? It scares me to lose him… to lose any of you.
—Hey, straight boys! Get your ass in here!—Max exclaimed, looking at both boys with her hands resting on her hips—.
Mike sighed and stood up, ignoring completely the offended look of his friend, and then he followed behind.
—Okay, so, Markus suggested to get something to eat and I’m starving, so, any suggestions?—The girl said—.
—Umh, i don’t know—Michael turned to look at Will, who was holding hands with his boyfriend—, What do you prefer, Will?
—Eh, i don’t know… Sweetie?—He said as he turned to look at his partner—.
—What about… we have some pizza? Babe? What do you think?
Michael felt like he ran out of air and his gut twisted.
Sweetie.
Babe.
—Yeah, we should get some pizza, maybe your favourite, Will—Mike added with fake friendliness as he casually pointed to his best friend as he said his name—Some pineapple pizza or just the one with peppers?
—Uh… Yeah, sure, if you guys are okay with that—He said, gesturing to Lucas and Mike with his hand, feeling a bit… awkward—or we could order two pizzas for the five of us.
Max nodded.
—Sounds good—She said before turning to her boyfriend—.
—Sounds good—Lucas repeated—.
—Okay, yes, we should wait for Dustin, then—Will scratched his neck—.
—Where’d he go?—Mike asked—.
—Oh, he got busy trying to get a game to work again—Max replied—.
—Guys!—Dustin exclaimed excitedly, appearing out of nowhere—I got it! I fixed the Dragon’s Lair! We could play it with Markus, now!
—Dustin! We are going to get some pizza—Lucas said, leaning against one of the arcades while his girlfriend looked at him—.
—Oh, cool, what are we ordering guys?
—We didn’t decide ye-
—Pineapple Pizza—Mike affirmed, interrupting Markus and getting an uncomfortable look from both the guy and William—.
The group ate pizza, played The Dragon’s Lair, Mike barely did better than Markus, and then everyone said goodbye and went home. Lucas left with Max, Will left with Markus, Steve drove Dustin, and Mike… he was left alone.
On his way home, he thought about how lonely he was, but ended up assuming it was due to the absence of his partner, his girlfriend, Eleven, Jane Hopper.
When he got home, Karen was awaiting on the sofa, drinking wine as per usual.
—Hi, mom, sorry for the time, uhh, I’m going to sleep
—Michael.
The boy paused.
—I’m happy you’re starting to feel a little better.
—I… yeah—He smiled at his mother and went upstairs—.
Unable to sleep, Mike continued writing. He didn’t know how he ended there, but the couple was playing chess together, smiling and laughing.
“I never played anything with El,” The boy thought. “Not even DnD, or chess, or anything, ever.”
Yet, in the writing, there was something familiar, something about it that felt like a warm memory.
“Why are you even writing about that? You could write about anything else,” Holly once said to him.
“I don’t know, it helps me… It helps me deal with all of this.”
“That makes no sense, why would thinking about that over and over again help you? Doesn’t it only make you feel worse?”
Mike never replied.
‘Good move, Will’ He had wrote as the paladin’s dialogue and when he noticed, he quickly removed the name to change it for the female spellcaster’s one, wondering why did that name slip.