Chapter Text
Hawkins, Indiana. A town that held so much pain now feels brighter and lighter. To those who don't know the real story, sure, a string of 'natural disasters and a few missing kids' can dampen the mood of a town, but what really occurred is far from the average resident's imagination. It could be easy for Will to write off his childhood as just a terrible experience and try to suppress every bad memory and emotion, but he can't; that would mean forgetting all the love and great times he experienced with his friends and loved ones, even throughout all the saving-the-world adventures.
Will's return from college for the holidays felt like one of the most normal experiences he could've had in a long time. Just something every college student does, return to their hometown, right? He had planned to stay in New York, but a troubling call late into the night had him booking a flight back as soon as possible.
2 years. There isn't a timeline or a way to grieve, and Will can't blame Mike; of course, that was his sister, too. El meant a lot to everyone; he was mostly concerned about Mike's mental state, seeing how he had only improved somewhat. Which brings Will to now. He sits in his seat on the plane, Walkman on his ears, replaying the conversation he had a while ago.
---
The phone rings, making Will rise from bed. Occasionally, he receives one of these calls every few weeks, so Will knows exactly who the caller is.
"Mike?"
"Will, I know it's late... I was trying to be productive, but it's hard. Everyone has been able to do all these great things, but I'm stuck." Mike sounds tired, exhausted. Mentally and emotionally. "It doesn't help that everybody is gone. Off to school, new jobs, and I'm just here. In school, by myself. And I'm upset. Why can't I get it together? Why am I still here, thinking of all the ways things could have ended up differently?" Mike starts to choke up. Will knows this is a cry for help, and he's preparing himself to offer words of comfort, but Mike composes himself and speaks before he can respond.
"Will... I need somebody. I need you here, please?"
Will silently sighs and glances over to the other side of his bed, his boyfriend resting silently. "Yes, Mike, I'm coming, okay? I'll be there as soon as possible. Stay safe."
"Thank you, Will."
The line disconnects, and Will sighs. "I assume our plans have changed then," Carlton says, facing the wall before rising up and turning on a lamp. "They've changed because Mike called and needed you sooo much." He says Mike's name with vitriol, and his jaw clenches. Will and Carlton had a good relationship, but their only point of contention was Will's past life in Hawkins, the things he couldn't explain, the stories Carlton wouldn't understand, the relationships he couldn't comprehend.
Will turns and faces him, "I'm sorry, babe, but he's been having a really hard time. He needs somebody who can help. What he's going through... It's rough, okay?" Carlton's expression softens a little but remains steeled. "Of course I understand, losing someone that close can be terrible, but really? I find all the late-night calls and hometown trips unnecessary. And now, you're leaving, and you barely considered our plans of seeing your parents in Montauk together for the first time in that decision to be by his side."
"Of course, I barely considered it. He's my best friend. If he needs me, I'm gonna be there for him." Will gets up and begins packing up some things. "I find it hard to believe this is the conversation we are having right now. You're upset I'm going to support someone who's been in my life for about as long as I can remember? That's really what's going on?" Carlton gets up as well and sighs heavily, "I'm upset you place him above everything else, above me even. Let's be honest, Will." Will stops and looks at Carlton, frowning.
"Listen, I love you, and I'll be back soon. We can still see my parents, just on a different day. Okay?" Will closes the distance and kisses him on the cheek, and brushes his cheek before heading out.
---
He landed around 12 AM and first booked a place to stay and then called a taxi to take him to where Mike stayed, once Mike had told him about his studies. He decided to attend a college in Indiana, wanting to stay close enough to visit whenever he could. He couldn't let himself be unleashed from the hold it had on him. Will hated seeing Mike like this. Once confident, outspoken, and passionate, now a recluse, soft and sad.
Will arrived at the dormitory and knocked; it opened shortly after, revealing Mike, hair unkept and frizzy, with a pair of glasses on. "Hey," He said once they were face-to-face. "Hey, come in," Mike opened the dorm wider, and it revealed two beds: one side sparsely decorated and the other, by the window, featuring a variety of mementos from their shared childhood. Mike starts to ramble about something, beating around the bush about this impromptu visit. Will can see Mike's hands fidget as he talks, then they both sit on the edge of the bed.
"You don't have to worry about anyone barging in; my roommate went back home for the break. Although he isn't here that much anyway." Will looks at Mike with concern. He's been all alone, and it makes Will feel bad. While he's been at school partying, staying out, and getting to know new people. Mike has been alone in his dorm room, grieving. "I'm sorry, Mike, I should reach out more. I should see you more. I know it's been hard for you." He looks Mike in his eyes, and Mike looks away quickly.
"I just feel pathetic. I don't want to be like this anymore; it's hard. Being reminded of everything, I want to move forward, y'know? Do all the things you. Lucas, Max, and Dustin get to do." Mike sighs as Will touches his shoulder. In a way, Will is happy to be able to help Mike through this. After the possessions and all the nightmares he went through, it's nice to be able to pay back the favor. "Mike, I think you need to get out of this room, maybe try some new things. So get your jacket because we'll be going on an adventure."
Mike nods and puts on his coat. They head outside, and that's where Will reveals they'll be going to a bar. "What?! Will, you said an adventure, not some place that's full of idiots who are too stupid to think straight," Mike exclaims as they walk down the sidewalk towards the little college town bar with music filling the late night. Will chuckles, "Mike, that's exactly why it's an adventure, it's somewhere you've never been, and maybe sometimes people want to be too stupid, to not think of what's going on just for a little while."
They both go silent, a little awkwardness in the air as they are let in, they find seats at the bar and order beers.
"Cheers, Mike, to finding new adventures." Will lifts his bottle.
Mike stares for a second before lifting his as well, and half-giving a smirk. "Cheers..." They drink, and Mike instantly grimaces, "This tastes like absolute shit, Will." Mike says with a light chuckle, and Will grins, "I'm not a fan of the taste either."
Drinks continue flowing in the low-light bar, and the two get back on the same page. Will is happy to see Mike smile in person again, something that was rare since that day in November. It warms his heart in a way that hasn't been warm in a while, like his heart stopped while he was away from him. Which is a thought he doesn't want to confront right now, not after just fighting with his boyfriend about how much of a priority Mike is in his life that night before flying out to see him.
It was strange how even after he got over his crush, Mike had Will wrapped around his finger, whether he knew it or not. Will looked over at Mike. He noticed that his frame was now more slender, with a pronounced jawline that was even more so. Will wasn't a big fan of the glasses, though.
Mike turned and looked at Will, then smiled, "I know, the glasses. It's something to adjust to." Will was taken out of his thoughts and had to respond. "Oh, uh, yeah, kinda makes you look like your dad." They both laughed, obviously tipsy, "Wanna get one more drink and go? Explore the area?" Mike nods, and they pay the tab and wander off.
The air was crisp and cold, snow littering the sidewalks. Mike and Will walked close to each other, laughing about anything and everything, until settling on a bench where Mike spoke up. "Thank you, Will. I'm sorry you had to come out here for me, but I appreciate it so much. I needed someone who would fully understand what I needed. You know me better than I do."
"It's okay, don't apologize-" Mike cut him off, placing his hands over Will's. "No. I mean it... You should be in New York, with Jonathan, your mom, Hopper, and-"
"Mike." Will cuts him off again, "I'm here because you needed me. Why wouldn't I come?" There's silence as they look at each other, hands still connected, the only warmth in the brisk air aside from their breathing. Will looks down and removes his hands. Mike slightly frowns. Will thinks to himself, 'What the hell is going on?' He chalks it up to being somewhat tipsy. Mike is a physical guy, so it was almost as if they were the same Will and Mike they had been all those years ago.
Mike gets up, and Will follows, assuming they are heading back to his place. They walk in short silence until Mike breaks it, "Will, why do we pretend?" This catches him off guard.
"What?" Will stops and looks at Mike. "I mean, let's just be honest with each other. I'm ready for it." Will tries to read Mike's expression; it's been harder for him for a couple of years now, but he can sense it's time. They continue walking again, closing the distance towards Mike's place.
When Will came out, it was definitely not the right time, but he needed to in order to help fight Henry. The coded language and conversations that followed had a sense of 'this needs to be addressed later,' but the time didn't come, unfortunately, with El's death. This gave Will the time to move on and find love elsewhere, in Carlton. Mike opens his door, and they sit down with Will adjusting slightly.
"Well, what is it that you want to know?" Will's heart beat a little faster, with the threat of his skeletons being released. The idea that the emotions from the past could affect his future. Mike sighed. "Tell me about Lenora. We spent so much time saving the world, we never got to be regular again."
"What's so important about Lenora? I went to school, and it was boring and lonely," Will chuckled lightly. Mike looked Will directly in his eyes. "It's cause you lied back then, in the van. This painting," He gets up and grabs it off the wall, "El never asked you to make it. She never said those words, that was you, why?"
Will's heart dropped to his stomach. "Mike, back then, I... had liked you, okay? But I wanted to help; both of you were struggling, so I wanted to make it right. It was awkward we were fighting, and you and El were fighting, but it was easier to help fix those problems than to say what was on my chest, what was in my heart. It doesn't matter anymore, though, Mike, things have changed."
"But they haven't, Will. I've been sitting for two years replaying everything in my life, and things didn't make sense. You didn't like me, you loved me, Will!" Mike's voice is loud, and Will wants to speak, but Mike starts up again, "And it took me some time, but I think... I loved you, no, I love you. I've been in my head because I've wasted not just her time, but yours too, and I hate it. I hate myself. El spent her time with me, an idiot who couldn't even vocalize my feelings. And you had to watch while hiding yours. I'm sorry, Will, and I'm being even more selfish now knowing that you-"
Will cuts him off with a kiss; he knows it's terribly wrong to do this, but it's been years in the making for a moment like this to come about. It started off slow, but as time passed, it became more passionate, his hands roaming throughout Mike's hair, Mike's around his waist. They couldn't let go of each other, too afraid to think of what would come after. Will finds his back hit Mike's mattress as Mike's body sits above him, and they continue to kiss deeply.
Mike found himself kissing behind Will's ears and peppering him with kisses all over his neck, giving Will a second to think while he wasn't so busy. It felt good to finally have Mike in his arms, a goal he gave up on years ago, but in the back of his head, he couldn't help but curse himself for giving in to temptations. The same temptations that couldn't keep Will away whenever Mike called, whenever he needed help. Both Will and Mike knew this wasn't a good idea, yet they couldn't resist.
They parted with heavy breaths.
"Mike... this wasn't a good idea." Will instantly has regret, although not because he kissed Mike, but because he cheated on Carlton.
"Yeah.. but Will, this was the best I have felt in a while. I know it's wrong, but it's right this way. It should have been this way." They stare silently, not knowing what to do next. Awkward tension fills the air. "Maybe in another time, but Mike, he loves me, and I love him, I can't do this..."
"Tell me this, though, do you still have love for me in your heart, Will?" Mike says, lowly but surely. As if it's the only thing he would ever need an answer to.
"Mike..." Will knows the answer; he doesn't even need to say it. He couldn't even try to lie; his actions would always prove him wrong. Mike knows this too, as Will doesn't reply, "I'll have to get going back to my hotel... it was nice seeing you." They silently hug before departing. Leaving the friendship in limbo, Will is left with some questions he needs answers to and decisions to make.