Archive of Our Own ^omega

“Can I show you something?” 

Mike turns, his eyes catching Will’s for a second. He looks down, feeling strange before he nods. Will takes a moment to get what he needs. There in the van, Jonathan and Argyle at the front holding their own conversation. It’s been a few awkward hours since they got on. Silent from both him and Will, and Mike never knows what to say.

Will takes out a rolled up paper, as he hands it to him. Mike takes it delicately, knowing that something from Will is precious.  

He rolls it open, and gasps softly at what he sees. He grins, feeling overwhelmed with happiness. “This is amazing! Did you paint this?” 

Will’s face lights up, the cloud that had been hanging over his head for the past couple of days vanishing as he nods. “Yeah,” he said wistfully, before his eyes seem to quickly come to a realization. “Yeah… I mean. El commissioned it.” 

His smile drops at the mention of El, and is instead laser focused on Will’s face. The drop of his smile, the small glint in his eye, and the way he gets closer to point at the painting. “She… basically told me what to do.” He seems nervous, and Mike wants to ask why. If El commissioned it, why was he so nervous? Why were his hands shaking? 

“Anyways, my point is, see how you’re leading us here?” says Will, pointing to the drawing. “You’re guiding the whole party. Inspiring us. That’s what you do. And see your coat of arms here? It’s a heart. I know… that’s sorta on the nose, but that’s what holds this whole party together. Heart,” says Will. Mike can’t look away. 

“Because… I mean, without heart, we’d all fall apart. Even El. Especially El.” He emphasizes, sees the shine in his eyes. “These past few months… she’s been so lost without you. She’s just so different from other people… and when you’re different,” Will looks away, his hands shaking. Mike has a strange sensation to hold them. 

“When you’re different, you feel like a mistake,” says Will, and then he turns back to Mike, feeling a bit more courageous. “But you don’t make her feel like a mistake at all. Like she’s better for being different. And that gives her the courage to fight on.” 

Will seemed to be rather adamant in him and El. And Will continued to speak, to encourage his relationship about El. 

When he’s done, Mike feels something ache in his chest at Will’s sad eyes. “Yeah?” He asks. 

Will nods, his face crumbling softly. “Yeah,” he confirms, smiling. 

Mike smiles back, before looking back at the painting. It’s beautiful, and Mike doesn’t know how much it truly meant. He doesn’t notice the way Will turns away, his shoulders shaking. 

Mike loves the painting. He really does. 

That night they find a motel to book a night. Mike doesn’t pay attention to the way Will avoids him, he holds the painting dearly and puts it away as he gets ready for bed. 

Will seems to already be asleep when he comes out of the bathroom, his back facing him, under the covers. Mike gets ready to sleep, feeling like dirt for ignoring Will these past few months. Will drew him like the heart of the group, but clearly Mike hadn’t been if Will had felt like that during their argument at Rink O’ Mania. 

He stares up at the ceiling, falling asleep against the warm sheets, with the thought of Will in mind. 

Mike wakes up in an unfamiliar place. 

The bed is big, and spacious, completely different from the bed back home, and especially different from the bed in the motel he was sleeping in. He looks around for any sign of a person, wondering if this was a prank. A really awful one. 

When he gets out of bed, his body feels different too. Bigger. Taller. Like he was grown up. When he looks down, his eyes widen, because he definitely does look grown up. 

He quickly wanders around until he finds a bathroom, and looks into the mirror. 

“What the fuck!” He screams, staring at himself, a completely adult version of himself. It’s weird. Super weird. Like something straight out of Back to the Future! He rubs his eyes roughly, wondering if this was all a super weird dream, but when he opens his eyes again, he’s still there, adult and all! 

He rummages through the apartment. (He has his own apartment!) As he looks around, he sees a calendar plastered on the kitchen wall, with the day. The first thing he sees is the year. 

2001. 

“What the fuck!” He whispers for the second time, the shock so intense that he blinks rapidly. He looks around, biting his lip. So, he’s 30, if he does the math correct. 

Wait. 

He looks at the money and the date and his eyes widen. March 22nd, 2001. 

“Will!” He thinks. It’s Will’s birthday! He should say it. But how? He doesn’t have anyway of knowing how to reach him. 

The answer comes in a beep sounding from his beside desk. He goes and grabs it, it’s a small little… block thing. It looks like a calculator, but the second conclusion is that it's a small phone. Just like the landline phone, only tinier and possibly better!. On the top is the name, Lucas. 

“Yes!” He shouts as he answers. “Lucas! Lucas! Oh my god. Thank god… you… beeped me!” He says excited. 

There’s a pause on the other side. “…Are you high?” 

“What?” Mike asks, aghast. “No! Don’t you know what day it is?” 

“Yes, you’re supposed to be meeting your publisher in twenty minutes, Mike,” says Lucas, annoyed. “Don’t tell me you overslept? I’m literally on my way to pick you up!”

Mike opens his mouth not sure what to say before Lucas quickly adds, “Just hurry up and get dressed! You're lucky I agreed to come to this thing with you!” Before he hangs up. 

Mike stares at the phone silently. 

“What an asshole,” he mutters. 

He does get dressed. He puts something on without care, brushing his teeth and washing his face before he hears the knock on his door. When he goes to open it, Lucas stares at him in horror. 

“What the hell are you wearing?” 

“…Clothes?” 

“Dude. You’re meeting a publisher, not going to the arcade like we’re some teenagers! You need to look the part! Holy fuck, how are you an adult? How have you survived by yourself for so long?” Lucas says in surprise as he pulls him in and opens his closet. He starts talking clothes out and throwing them at him. “Put this on, quick! We need to leave!” 

Mike doesn’t ask Lucas what publisher they're meeting, because if he does, he feels that Lucas might actually explode.

After about five minutes of undressing and dressing up again, they're in Lucas’s car, finally driving. Lucas is speed-driving, but Mike doesn’t care as he fidgets through the little phone for Will’s number. His eyes furrow when he doesn’t come up with anything. Their isn’t many contacts in the phone. It ranges from his parents, to his sisters, to Dustin, Lucas, and El. 

El! Holy fuck. Does this mean they’re not together anymore? Mike always imagined that by the time he was 30, he’d be married by now. But seeing as he lives alone, there weren't any pictures of him with anyone in the apartment, and El hasn’t reached out must mean something. 

He’s not sure how to bring it up to Lucas’s focused gaze on the road. 

Instead, he asks, “What’s Will’s number? It must’ve gotten deleted because I don’t have it.” 

“What?” Lucas gives him a weird look that makes Mike feel even more strange. 

“Uh, Will?” He asks. “Will’s number?” 

“What do you need that for?” Lucas asks, even more perplexed and definitely more weirded out. 

“What the hell,” says Mike. “Why are you being so weird?” 

“Why are you?” Lucas asks. “Are you high? Like actually? You can’t be. This publisher is important. You’ve basically hounded me all month to come with you as moral support! If you’re high, I’m actually going to kill you.” 

“I’m not fucking high!” Mike yells, before looking down at his phone. “Give me Will’s number.” 

“No!” yells Lucas. “Are you crazy?” 

“Am I…” Mike stutters, confused. “Am I crazy for wanting to say happy birthday to my best friend?!” 

“What!?” Lucas yells even more confused as they get to a red light and he turns to him, a completely bewildered expression on his face. “You’re actually fucking high.” 

Mike splutters confused. Before he can defend himself Lucas cuts in, “Forget it. You’re not getting it. Focus on what you’re going to tell this guy! Why should he consider publishing your book!” 

Oh. So that’s what this is then. Mike wrote a book. 

The first thing he wants to ask is why Will isn’t here to support him. Will was his best friend, he would want to be here. They’ve talked about this for a long time. Him writing and Will illustrating, it was such a simple dream that it didn’t seem real that Will wasn’t the one here with him. 

Lucas parks in front of a building, as he ushers him out. Mike does, as Lucas shoves the book into his hands. “Listen, it seems you’re too out of it to understand, but he’s there waiting for you. Some guy named Millers. You’ll immediately recognize him. Just, hurry up and don’t fuck this up.” He rolls down the window. “I have to go look for parking, but I’ll meet you inside as soon as I get in there.” 

Mike slams the door shut as he gets out. He’s starting to think his adult life is weird and strange. Not even El is here to support him. Which makes sense if they’re not together anymore, but Will? Will is one of the most important people in his life and he’s not here? 

He steps into the building, and immediately feels underdressed. So Lucas was right. This was important. Super important that he had begged Lucas to accompany him as moral support. 

He takes a look down at the book he’s holding. It’s just a copy of a script, really. Not actually a published book yet. Still, he skims it and when he comes across the words paladin and sorcerer, he slams it shut. Adult Mike still must think of Will, then. So where the fuck was he? 

Lucas was right. Again. (Ugh.) The guy is fast to recognize Mike, as he waves him over where he’s sitting in a booth. Mike quickly feels overwhelmed sitting on the other side. “Hi.”

The guy looks at him weirdly for a second. “Hi, Mr. Wheeler. It’s nice to see you again.” He holds his hand out. 

Oh, right. Mike shakes his hand. What was his name again? “Hello, Mr. Miller. Sorry, it’s been a rough morning.” 

Mr. Miller gives him a small smile. “It’s alright. Days like this are nerve wracking for authors and writers alike. So, let’s get down to business. What’s this book about?” He asks, getting a small notepad out as he gets ready to write. 

But Mike doesn’t know. 

He holds the script of the book tightly. Not wanting to fuck this up for adult Mike, he jumbles his words.

“It’s… uh, it’s about a paladin and a sorcerer.” Mr. Miller probably doesn’t know anything about D&D. 

Mr. Miller writes these words down. “They’re… uh, they’re in a group. Kinda like Star Wars?” He says, sounding confused. Mr. Miller pauses as he looks at him. 

“So, you want to publish another fantasy sci-fi novel? It’s hard to get these recognized out there.” Mr. Miller asks. “What’s the premise about?”

Mike pauses, feeling his hands clump with sweat. He thinks of what adult Mike must be writing, but comes up blank. How can adult Mike let Will disappear from his life like this? He doesn’t even have his number. So they must’ve fought, again. He thought everything was fixed after they talked out that fateful day, but it seems that adult Mike didn’t even try to look for Will. 

You’re the heart. 

Will’s words from earlier (15 years ago?) come back to him. “It’s about… the sorcerer being the heart of the group. But… he doesn’t know. He put this idea of him being the heart to the paladin, but doesn’t realize the true meaning behind it. Because the paladin and the sorcerer have always been… friends.” He cringes, not understanding his own words. “The sorcerer just wants to help others, but doesn’t realize how it affects him when he doesn’t have… someone to lean on.” 

Mr. Miller stops writing. “This sounds… very proactive.” 

Mike frowns. “What do you mean?” 

“You’re saying that the sorcerer has a hard time accepting himself, no?” 

Mike nods, “Yeah.” He shakes his head. “Yeah! I mean… the sorcerer doesn’t know how to accept himself so he hides and pretends to be strong for everyone. The paladin notices, yeah!” But how could have Mike not noticed Will? 

Mr. Miller hums. “So you’re trying to publish a queer story?” 

What? 

“I’m… sorry. What?” Mike asks, laughing in disbelief. 

“This sounds like you’re trying to publish a queer story.” Mr. Miller smiles. “It’s nothing bad. It’s about two boys, finding one another in an apocalyptic world and accepting themselves for who they are. It sounds like a promising coming of age story.” 

Mr. Miller writes something down. “How about this? You give me the script, my team and I go over it for the next couple of weeks. Tweak a few things, and then we can start with the story, and everything else that follows.” 

Mike’s shaking hand hands him the script. Mr. Miller grabs it, nodding as he skims through it quickly. “It does look like that’s what you were pushing, but making it seem subtle. There’s no need to be scared anymore, Mr. Wheeler. A good coming of age story is needed in times like this!” 

Mike didn’t even know adult Mike had been pushing for something like that. 

His phone starts ringing, and he quickly grabs it. 

The name reads; El. 

“I—can we reschedule? I just.. this is an emergency!” He doesn’t even look back to Mr. Miller’s bewildered face as he races into the bathroom and answers the phone. 

“El? El, is that you? Oh my god, you need to help me,” says Mike quickly. “I just woke up in this body. But I’m still, you know, fifteen! I don’t know what’s going on!” 

There’s silence. “Are you… drunk?” She asks, confused. 

“What?! No!” He says defensively. “Ugh, whatever! El! I need you to give me Will’s number.” 

“No,” she answers. 

Mike looks back at the phone in shock, before pressing it back to his ear. “What? Why!” 

“Just no, Mike,” she says, clearly agitated. 

“It’s his birthday, El,” says Mike, desperately. 

“I know,” says El. “But I can’t give it to you.” 

But Mike wants to know why. And no one is giving him a clear answer. “Anyway, I am calling for something different.” She says, “You still haven’t RSVP’ed for my wedding next week! I need to know if you are coming.” 

Wedding? 

“What?” Mike says, aghast. “You’re getting married?! To who?!” 

“…Dustin?” says El, confused. “Are you drunk, Mike? It’s too early to be drinking. I told you he proposed a while ago, and I sent the wedding invites over two months ago.” 

Right, right. Adult Mike. Mike shakes his head. “Oh, yeah. Look, sorry. I’ve just had a weird morning. Woke up late, came to the publisher for my book, and Lucas didn’t want to give me Will’s number and now you don’t and I just don’t understand why.”

“You will see him at my wedding,” she says instead, not moved at all. “You can talk to him then.” 

“No, El!” He denies, feeling tears start to brim his eyes. “You don’t understand, I need to talk to him now. It’s just… I can’t wait that long.

He must’ve sounded really desperate because she sighs. “…Fine. But if you hurt him, Mike, I swear I will hurt you even worse.” 

Mike would never do anything to hurt Will. Besides all the stupid stuff he’s said the past few years but stuff he didn’t mean. Instead, he nods, feeling thankful. “Thank you, El. I mean it.” 

El doesn’t give him Will’s number. Instead, she gives him an address and says that if what he needs to say is so important then he will meet him. Mike agrees instantly, because all he needed to do was see Will. 2

When Lucas finds him he asks him how it went. Mike gives a vague response as he thinks of Will and what El told him.

Will lives in New York. It’s something he would believe, just couldn’t believe that he’s not with him. Being roommates and living together. They talked about it before, how they would move out of Hawkins and get their own place together. But Will wasn’t here, and he lived 10 hours away. 

When he gets home he packs a bag, stuffing as much clothes as he can before throwing it onto the floor. From the corner of his eye he sees something pinned. It’s the painting. The one Will gifted him. (El commissioned it.) But Mike knew that was a lie. At least now. If El was happily getting married, he wouldn’t keep something that was from her to him. This must’ve been from Will. His Will. His best friend. He grabs his stuff, the painting and walks out his apartment. Then, he pauses. He doesn’t know how to drive. 

And he can’t ask Lucas, who told him he had to get back to his family. Apparently, Lucas was only staying in Hawkins for a little while. And then, he was going back to California with Max. Max apparently doesn’t talk to him as much as the others, and they’re only visiting family. 

He takes the bus. 

There’s something weird about taking the bus from Indiana all the way to New York. Knowing that he’s on his way to Will, is the only console he has. He wants answers. He needs to know what has happened in the last fifteen years. 

He wants to know how he fucked it up this bad. He knows it would’ve been easier to ask El or Lucas, after a lot of groveling and convincing they might believe him. 

But something in his chest…. Something tells him that only Will can give him these answers. 

The bus plays music, and he lays his head against the window. 

I’m not in love, so don’t forget it 

El and him were over. But it didn’t hurt. Not as much as he thought it would. It actually felt… nice to know that El found someone who loved her for her. Someone she was happy with. 

It’s just a silly phase, I’m going through 

He was glad that El had Dustin. And Dustin had El. They were getting married! He was actually really excited about that part. 

But what about Will? That he would see him at the wedding?  

And just because, I call you up 

Don’t get me wrong, don’t think you’ve got it made 

How could he go so long without seeing Will? The thought was so insane that Mike thought he entered an alternate universe. Did Will not want to talk to him anymore? 

What about him? Did adult Mike not want to talk to Will? 

The thought made his chest hurt. 

I’m not in love, no, no

He lets his mind wander, as he rests for the rest of the drive. 

New York was busy, even at night. As he traveled through the crowded streets, holding tightly unto his backpack. He follows the map he stole from inside the bus, as he walks through the streets. 

Someone bumps into him and he looks behind him, “Fucking watch it!”

“Fuck you man,” the guy says, pointing a middle finger at him. 

New York was bright, all the buildings were tall and illuminated the streets like it was morning. And the colors were everywhere, it was no wonder Will lived here. It was amazing. 

He ends up taking a cab to Will’s place. His heart races uncontrollably. He’s not sure what he should be feeling besides nervousness. 

Doesn’t know how adult Mike would be feeling right now. 

After about an hour and an expensive bill to pay the cab, he finds himself in front of Will’s apartment. It’s a quiet neighborhood, secluded from the rest of the city but not too far from the bustling lights of the city. He finds himself pausing mid way to knock. 

Why is he here? Clearly Lucas and El didn’t want him to speak to Will. 

But he needs to know. 

That’s his resolve as he knocks. 

There’s a few seconds of silence as he waits for the door. He can hear him. Will on the other side, calling that he’s on his way. 

His hands feel sweaty even in the cool spring air, he pushes his glasses up. The door is unlocking, and it opens. 

Oh my. 

Will is so pretty. So, so pretty as an adult. Will stares, his mouth open in shock, eyes wide and so expressive. His hair is curled at the ends, damp like he just took a shower. His skin is a beautiful golden, lips so pink and soft. Mike wants to lean in and- 

“Michael?” Will says confused. Mike looks up hurt. “What are you doing here?” 

He doesn’t know. Mike looks away. “It’s… It’s your birthday,” he says lamely. “And… something weird is happening.” 

Will frowns and looks at his watch. “It’s eleven at night, Michael. Why are you here?” 

“I…” Mike says. “Why are you calling me that?” 

Will looks at him funny. “Your name?” 

“No. Michael. It’s Mike.” 

Will rolls his eyes and leans against the door. “What do you need, Mike?” 

Mike swallows what seems to be a lump in his throat. This Will is so different. “You’re pretty,” is the first thing Mike says. 

Will slams the door shut. 

“Wait, Will!” Mike knocks on the door. “Please, I need your help.” He whispers, desperately leaning against the door. “Please. Will.” 

There’s a sigh on the other side of the door. The door unlocks and Will opens, he gestures to come in. Mike goes in, looking around. The apartment is so Will. So many paintings around the wall, his entire apartment is covered in different ways of his work. There’s a small station in the corner with paints and canvases. 

“You still draw,” says Mike, more like an observation than a question. 

“Um, yeah,” says Will, looking uncomfortable. “It pays the bills. Listen, Michael,” he emphasizes on the name. “What are you doing here?” 

Oh, right. 

“I told you, Will,” says Mike. “Something weird is happening. Yesterday we were in the van. You know the one where you gave me the painting, and we were on our way to find El.” 

Will blinks. “Wow, that’s a memory I didn’t want to remember.” 

“And then, I just woke up and I’m… just this!” He opens his arms. 

Will stares at him. “Are you high?” 

“No,” says Mike exasperated. “Listen. I’m not… high. I just woke up like this. I swear yesterday, I was just talking to you, sharing the motel and then all of a sudden I woke up and I don’t remember my life.” 

Will’s eyes are confused, almost as if he didn’t believe him. Still Mike continued, “You need to help me remember my life.” 

“Me?” Will asks. 

“Yes!” 

“I can’t…” Will looks away. “I can’t help you.” 

“Why?” Mike whispers. 

“I…” Will looks uncomfortable. “We’re not friends anymore, Mike. I haven’t seen you since… Lucas’s and Max’s wedding.” 

“When was that?” 

Will sighs, “It was 4 years ago, Mike.” 

“But…” Mike pauses, his heart sinking. “Why wouldn’t we be friends, anymore? We’re best friends.” 

“We were,” says Will. “Not anymore.” 

Mike feels himself hyperventilating, not understanding what’s happening. “Okay, okay,” Will says, looking around before grabbing Mike’s hand and gently pulling him onto the couch. “Just stay there. I’ll get you a glass of water.” 

But all Mike can hear is static in his ears. 

There’s a chilled glass shoved into his hands as Will says, “Drink.” Mike gulps, Will scrambles, “Slowly, Mike!” 

Mike pauses and slowly drinks, before finishing the cup. He gives it back to Will who places it back on the table. “Are you okay?” Will asks, looking concerned. 

“I’m…” Mike whispers. “No. I traveled ten hours to come see you. Because I woke up and the first thing I thought of was you, Will. Where you were, how you were. Both Lucas and El didn’t want to give me your number. But I just…. didn’t understand why.” 

Will bit his lip, before sighing. “So you’re serious?”

Mike nods. 

Will nods back. “Still, Mike… I can’t be the one to tell you.” 

“Why?” Mike asks again. 

“I told you, Mike,” says Will, softly. “We’re not friends anymore. We went two completely different paths. I don’t know anything about you.” 

Mike feels the tears start again. Because how was that possible? Him and Will. They’re like two peas in a pod. They knew everything about each other. Mike pauses. But he guesses that’s wrong too. Mike and Will had drifted away since he moved. He couldn’t even write him letters. 

“Is it my fault?” Mike whispers. 

“No,” says Will. “We both just drifted apart. It happens, Mike. People grow apart.” 

“Not to us,” Mike whispers, eyes watery. “Not to us.” He repeats. 

Will sighs, “Listen, Mike. Why don’t you stay the night? I’ll book you a flight tomorrow back home. You need to rest.” 

Mike nods. “Okay.” 

“Okay,” says Will. 

Will leads him to a guest bedroom, and lets him get ready for bed. Mike looks around as he puts his bag on the bed. It was weird being here, in an adult body with no recollection of the past. 

When he gets ready, he comes out of the bedroom to find Will in the kitchen making two cups of hot chocolate. “Will?” He asks. 

“Mike,” says Will, smiling. “Hot chocolate?” 

“With whipped cream?” Mike asks. 

Will rolls his eyes fondly, finally a version of Mike knows coming to surface. “Duh, with whipped cream.” 

When Mike hands him his cup he sits down. Mike studies his face again, wondering how it was possible to get even more pretty. Will was always beautiful, always something about him that drew Mike to him. But now, it was like it was confidence and years of experience that had him glowing with his beauty. “Happy birthday, Will,” he says again. “I’m sorry I missed it these last few years.” 

Will seemed surprised at this. “And I’m sorry, I missed it a few days ago. At Rink O’ Mania.” 

Will blinks at this, before laughing softly. “Mike, you don’t need to apologize about something that happened over a decade ago.” 

“But it didn’t,” says Mike. “Not to me… Those memories are still fresh. The way I treated you… it wasn’t fair and it wasn’t nice. I’m sorry, Will.” 

Will goes silent at that and drinks from his cup. “It’s okay, Mike. It doesn’t hurt me anymore.” 

Mike frowns but nods. He looks up at him, watching the way Will’s eyelashes flutter down as he sips his chocolate. His rosy cheeks and his hair finally drying. “Why are you alone on your birthday?” 

Will blinks surprised at this. He smiles. “I’m not alone, Mike. Many people wished me a happy birthday today. Including you. It just fell on a bad day. I’m going down to visit Mom and Hop on the weekend, El is also going.” 

“So, you were going to visit Hawkins this weekend?” 

“I still am.” 

“Would I have seen you?” 

Will goes silent at this, and sighs, “I don’t know, Mike. Every time I visit Hawkins… we never cross paths.” He shrugs, “It just happens.” 

Mike nods at this. He perks up. “We should… go somewhere. It’s still your birthday.” 

Will looks at the clock. “It’s 12:30 Mike,” he smiles. “It’s not my birthday anymore.” 

“No, but you deserve to be celebrated on your day.” Mike jumps up, smiling. “Come on, let’s go somewhere.” He grabs Will’s hand and lifts him up. Will laughs, as he gets dragged up. 

“Where, Mike? It’s late.” 

“Anywhere!” Mike laughs. “I mean, we’re adults! We can do anything!” 

“Well, you are right about that,” Will hums, eyes crinkled as he smiles at him. He looked pretty like this, happy and relaxed. “But I have work in the morning, Mike.” 

Mike deflates at this, and pouts. “Are you pouting?” Will giggles. 

Mike smiles. “No.” 

Will hums. “Fine,” says Will. “Let’s go.”

Mike smiles excited as he grabs his coat. 

“Where are we going?” Mike asks as they walk through the busy streets. Despite it being one in the morning, people were awake, more busier than ever. Will is walking ahead of him and he smiles at him, as he turns, “We’re going to the beach. Coney Island,” he winks. 

“In the water?!” Mike exclaims.

Will laughs. “We’re just going to walk around the boardwalk, silly.” 

Will leads him towards the train, and they find themselves talking for the next half hour as they travel. Will tells him all kinds of stuff about his life. How he became an illustrator for different authors who write comics and books. 

When Will talks about his job, he seems so happy that Mike is automatically happy just by seeing him. There's a twinkle in his eye as he talks about his work, and the passion never fades even as they get off the train and start walking towards the beach. 

Near the beach, it’s less bright than it is in the city. The only thing that clears the way is the moon, illuminating their path. 

“I’m glad,” says Mike. “You seem really happy with your job.” 

“I am,” Will says, as they walk alongside the boardwalk. “It was my dream to be able to incorporate my work.” 

“That’s good,” says Mike. “That’s really good, Will. I’m happy for you.” 

The ocean is calm tonight. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen the ocean so close,” Mike whispers. 

Will looks over to the ocean as well, and smiles. “It’s nice being so close to it. I always thought you would’ve moved out of Hawkins, but you didn’t.” 

“Why did you move?” Mike asks. “To New York, I mean.” 

Will shrugs. “Jane left for California with Dustin, and well I came to NYU. Max also did, and I ended up sharing an apartment with Lucas and Max, until I graduated. After that… Well, I found my own apartment here. I never left. I love New York, you know?” 

Mike nods at this. “It’s nice. Loud, but nice.” 

Will holds his shoes in his hands, his feet touching the sand. “Try it.” 

Mike follows suit, the sand getting in between his toes as he takes his socks off. “It feels weird.” 

Will giggles. “Imagine how it feels when it gets in places you never wanted it to.” 

Mike scrunches his nose as he bumps into Will. “Gross, Will.” Will fully laughs at his face as he bends down and grabs the sand, and throws some into his clothes. “What the… Will!” He screeches as he runs after him. Will laughs, running away as Mike runs after him. 

Mike realizes that he’s laughing too, and it feels good to laugh with Will again, without worrying about anything. 

As they run, Will trips, falling down. Mike follows right after, falling on top of Will as they both groan from the pressure. “Mike!” Will says. 

“Will!” Mike mocks, before smiling down at him. 

Will stares back at him and smiles. 

The same urge from earlier happens, when he was staring at Will for the first time. His cheeks, red from exertion and his lips soft and plump. The distance between them is perfect enough that all Mike has to do is lean down an inch, and their lips would meet. 

And so he does. 

Mike meets Will halfway, their lips brushing before it becomes a full kiss, warm and gentle and fuzzy. And it feels different from when he used to kiss El. This one felt more special to him, more personal as they kissed deeply. 

That’s until Will seems to react and pushes him off. “Oh my god,” says Will, getting up quickly. 

“Will?” Mike asks, dazed from where he was pushed onto the sand, as he gets up. “What's wrong?” 

Will shakes his head. “We shouldn’t have done that. You aren’t even… you aren’t even gay!” 

“What?” Mike asks, confused. “Why does that matter? I clearly wanted it too.” 

Will looks at him like he was a different person. He shakes his head. “No, you don’t understand. God. Mike, I’m sorry, I didn’t tell you. I have a boyfriend.” He says. 

Mike feels like he was dropped into the ocean, cold and freezing as he stares at Will. “What?” He whispers. 

“I have a boyfriend,” says Will, again. 

“Wha-Where is he then?” Mike asks. 

“He’s at work thinking I’m sleeping, just like how I should be,” says Will, frustrated. 

Mike takes a step closer, “Will, I don’t understand.” 

“I’m sorry, Mike,” says Will. “You need to go home. I’ll allow you to stay the night, but you need to go home. I can’t have you here. I can’t.” 

“But..” Mike whispers, confused. 

The night ends that way, Mike back in the guest bedroom as he rethinks the night. Mike and Will kissed and it felt right. Will must’ve felt it too if he had lashed out so quickly, and even then he still didn’t want to see him. 

Will went ahead and bought him a plane ticket back to Hawkins. But Mike didn’t want to leave anymore, not when the person he wants is here, his heart belonging to someone else. 

The next day, Will’s goodbye is stiff and emotionless. “I hope you find what you’re looking for,” says Will, softly. His eyes soften at the confusion in Mike’s face. “I’m sorry, I can’t help you more.” 

He leaves it at that and Mike finds himself at the airport, on the plane and then finally after two hours back in Hawkins. His heart felt heavy and his mind felt empty, not knowing what to do or what to feel.

Whatever had happened between them happened years ago, and the damage had been done to the point there was no way for them to go back to how they used to.

That’s how he finds himself in front of his parents home. He knocks. 

When his Mom opens the door, surprise clear on her face, his eyes squeeze shut as he hugs her. “Mike, you’re home,” she states, hugging him back.

“Mom,” he whispers into her neck, smelling the aroma of roses and flowers on her skin. The fancy perfume she always used was so comforting to him. 

Mom lets him in. She doesn’t ask why he’s here or why he was crying. She gave him a kiss on the head and went back to the kitchen. Mike lets his tears fall as he finds his old bedroom and flops on his bed. He didn’t know where his apartment was anyways. This was his actual home. 

Friday passes with no problem. Mike doesn’t even know if he has a day job or something besides his writing, and he’s too scared to ask. Mom would definitely know something is wrong or think he was on drugs like how everyone else thought he was on.

Under his bed is the same binder filled with Will’s drawings. Adult Mike must’ve felt the same if he never threw this away. Adult Mike was stupid, he decides. How hard was it to get your head out of your ass? Will was there, so pretty and beautiful, waiting for him, and adult Mike was being stupid for letting him go for so long. 

There had to be a way for Mike to fix this. There had to be. 

Saturday rolls around and he’s eating breakfast when he decides to ask his Mom something. “Mom?” He asks.

“Yes, honey?” 

“Do you ever wish you could go back?” 

Mom looks up at him. “Like to another time?” He clarifies. 

Mom smiles. “I wouldn’t mind getting rid of some of these wrinkles.” 

Mike smiles before clearing his throat. “If you were given one do over anything in your life, what would it be?” 

Mom seems a bit thoughtful about the question before she answers, “Nothing.” 

“Really?” 

“Really.” 

Mike feels his eyes get wet. “But did you ever make a big mistake?” He looks down. “A huge one that could change your life? What about that?” 

“Well,” says Mom, drinking her coffee. “Mike, I’ve made a lot of mistakes throughout my life. But I never regretted making them.” 

“But why?” 

“Because…” Mom seems to contemplate the right words. “If I hadn’t made them, then I wouldn't have known how to make things right.” 

Mike smiles before he says. “You’re a great Mom, Mom. I’m sorry I never said it before.” He had a feeling that adult Mike was just as stupid about his feelings. 

Mom smiles at him, before kissing his cheek. “You’re a good kid, Michael.” 

The words his mother told him resonated with him. Mike needed to make things right with Will. He needed to apologize and whatever had happened between them could be fixed. Because they were best friends, always have been. 

Will is coming to Hawkins today. He’s glad that Will told him that much before kicking him out. 

“Jane’s wedding is coming up,” says Mom. “It’s on Saturday. Are you ready?” 

Mike furrows his eyebrows. “I don’t have a suit, but yeah.” 

Mom smiles. “So you aren’t feeling… anything about her getting married? Is that why you asked that question?” 

Mike frowns. “I’m happy El is getting married, Mom. It wasn’t about her.” It was about Will. But Mike wasn’t sure he was ready to get into the topic with her just yet. “I’m happy for her. Really.” 

Mom pauses to study his face before smiling. “Good. That’s good, Mike.” 

The rest of the day goes by as Mike decides to head to Will’s house. It’s a little late, so he hopes Will is there and hadn’t planned some kind of outing. This time, he brought a gift, one of the scripts of his book he found in his apartment. 

Adult Mike was still thinking about Will, that he wrote a story about them. Mike couldn’t speak for adult Mike, but it was still him. Their feelings had to be connected somewhat. 

When he gets to the familiar house of Will he pauses, for the first time feeling out of place. He sees Lucas’s car, and a few others. One must be El’s if she’s here, or Jonathan’s. 

He steps up, sighing deeply before knocking. 

There’s chaos inside, he can hear it. Laughter and yelling as someone opens the door. It’s El. 

“Mike?” She asks, confused. 

“El,” he waves awkwardly. 

“What are you doing here?” 

“Umm…” Mike mumbles. “Is Will here?” 

Her eyes harden as she looks at him. “You didn’t come to bother him, right?” 

“No,” Mike says. He holds up the gift bag. “It’s… It’s his birthday. Weekend.” 

El looks at him hard. “Will invited you?” 

She seemed to not believe him, her face crumpled in confusion. El must’ve been taking a long time because someone is hollering after her. “Babe, who’s at the door?” It’s Dustin as he comes up beside her and holds her waist. His eyes widened seeing Mike. “Woah. Hey, Mike.” 

“Hi, Dustin,” he says awkwardly. 

Dustin looks between them before saying. “Are you allowed to be here?” 

Mike frowns. “I-…” 

“Jane, who’s at the door?” It’s Will. 

Mike looks up hopefully. Dustin moves out the way as Will makes an appearance. Will’s face falls. “Mike.” 

“Will.” Mike says. “I…Happy Birthday. Again.” 

“Why are you here?” Will asks. El and Dustin leave, not before El sends one last glare to him. He blocks the entrance to the door. 

“It’s your birthday,” he says again. 

“You said that on my actual birthday,” Will says. “I don’t understand.” 

“Will,” says Mike. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to come uninvited. But I couldn’t take it if I didn’t apologize or at least try to talk to you. I know the Mike from now isn't your friend, but I’m still me. I still think we’re best friends.” 

Will is silent for a few moments. “Fine. You can come in.” 

When Will makes a clear path, Mike steps in. It feels surreal to be back at his house. There’s not many people, and many he recognizes. Joyce, Hopper. Lucas and Max. Jonathan. But there’s one face he doesn’t recognize. 

“Guys,” says Will. “Mike and I… are working through a few things…. But he’s here, as a friend.” 

Lucas looks at him perplexed and he can feel Max’s and Jonathan’s glare. Joyce however is overjoyed as she comes over and hugs him tight. “Oh, Mike. You look so grown up! I haven’t seen you in so long!” 

“Hey, kid,” says Hopper lightly from the kitchen. 

Mike swallows before smiling. “Hi.”

“Babe!” The unfamiliar voice hollers out from the living room. Will gives a glance to Mike before gesturing to him to come with. Mike follows. 

“Hey,” the guy says, holding his hand out. Mike feels sick as he does. 

“Mike… this is Chance,” Will says. “My boyfriend. Chance, this is Mike.” 

“Yeah, I remember him,” says Chance, smiling. “We graduated the same year, no?” 

How does Will know him? Chance used to be one of those brutes. Those jocks. Will never liked them! Chance has a nice tan, and is still built like an athlete. But there’s no animosity as he looks at Mike. Just friendliness. 

Mike tries to smile back. “I think I remember you too.” 

“Man, it’s great you and Will patched things up,” says Chance. “He used to be so sad. But he seems to be lighter now that you’re here.” 

“Chance…” Will mumbles, elbowing him. Chance laughs, kissing his cheek as Will blushes. Mike feels revolted. 

“Babe, it’s nothing,” says Chance. “I told you, you’d be friends again one day.” 

Yeah. Friends. 

Mike feels sick as he looks away. Chance leaves to join Lucas and Max on the couch as Will stares awkwardly.

“This is a nice party,” says Mike.  

Will smiles. “Thanks. Do you want to…” he gestures to the couch. Mike nods, as he joins the rest of the group.

El, Dustin, Lucas, Max… and Chance are all talking amongst each other. It feels weird to see them all as adults, laughing and holding beers. “Mike, Mike! You’re still coming to my bachelor party, right?” Dustin asks. 

Mike nods. “Um, yeah. When is it again?” 

“It’s on Wednesday, Mike,” says Lucas, shaking his head. “What’s up with you these past few days, man?” 

“Maybe he’s starting to realize he’s going to be alone forever,” says Max from her seat next to him. Mike narrows his eyes. 

Will gives him a glance before sitting next to Chance. Mike pretends it doesn’t hurt. 

“So…” Dustin says. “What’s up with you two?” He says to Mike and Will. “I haven’t seen you in the same room since Lucas’s and Max’s wedding!” 

“Yeah,” Max asks suspiciously. “What’s with that?” 

“Mike had a change of heart,” El says from her seat next to Dustin. 

“What?” Will laughs.

Mike blushes. “That’s…” 

“He was asking a lot about you the other day.” Lucas nods. “I thought he was full of crazy!” 

“Men,” Max rolls her eyes. 

Will giggles, and it sounds like music to his ears. “Is that true, Mike?” 

Mike blushes, redder. “I mean… yeah. Technically.” 

Mike feels a rough pat on his back as Chance hands him a beer. “I’m glad you patched things up with my Will. Sometimes he seemed sad when they brought you up.” 

Will looks away at that. Mike drinks his beer, his fingers tightening at the mention of my Will. 

The night continues on with them drinking and laughing and playing games. They don’t play D&D, which makes sense for their age, Mike supposes. When they bring out the cake with the numbers, 30 on them, he can’t help but be sad. Will looks so happy at this age, not full of sadness and frustration like he did when he was a kid. And Mike isn’t here to see it. 

Well, he is. But real Mike, adult Mike isn’t, and that makes him feel sad to know that he missed out on all the best years with Will. 

“Make a wish, Will!” El says sweetly as Will closes his eyes and blows out the candles. When he opens his eyes, his eyes shine with happiness and he looks so soft and Mike can’t help but feel out of place. Will created a life without him. He didn’t need him anymore.

Mike was the one who needed Will. 

He looks away, before leaving the house, feeling stuffed inside. 

The spring is cool against his flushed skin, and he sits down on the steps as he stares out. Seriously, what is he doing here? To make things right? With someone who didn’t need him anymore? 

He’s outside for a few minutes before someone joins him. 

“Are you okay?” Will asks, ever the sweet one. 

Mike turns and watches as Will steps close and sits down next to him. “I’m… okay.” He says. 

Will nods. “Are you sure?” 

Mike shrugs. “I guess, I came to a realization.” 

“You did?” Will asks. “And what’s that?”

“You don’t need me anymore,” says Mike. 

Will goes silent. “I… thought that I was trying to make things right by being here. But I might be more of a nuisance.” 

“Mike…” 

“No, I’m right. You don’t need me,” says Mike.

“I think… I’m the one who needs you.”

Will looks away. “I’m sorry, Mike.” 

“This just… feels like a terrible dream,” Mike whispers. “Like I’m in someone else’s body.” 

“What’s that?” Will asks, gesturing to the wrapped gift in his hand. 

“Oh… it’s my birthday gift to you,” says Mike softly, holding it out. 

“You didn’t have to,” Will says, but still opens it. Will stares at it before flipping it open. “Mike this is…” Will’s eyes roam through the pages, the words paladin and sorcerer, and his eyes crinkle as he smiles back at him. “Mike, this is amazing. Did you make this?” 

“I did,” says Mike, feeling bashful. “Umm… it’s in the works, I think. By adult Mike. But… it seems like something I would write.” 

“It really does,” Will grins. “It’s amazing. But how come you’re giving it to me?” 

Mike shrugs. “I know it’s a story about us. It just felt right.” 

Will goes a little pink at the comment as he looks down and traces the letters on the back. “I’m happy that you are still writing, Mike. It’s amazing how your mind works.” 

Mike shifts closer as they both read. With Will here, Mike feels a bit more confident to read his own work. It’s a nice story, Mike thinks. It was clearly meat just for one person, and Will must realize too as he looks back at him with a little shock on his face.

Again, Mike feels a little vulnerable as he stares at him. His eyes shifting down to the softness of Will’s lips, pink and wet from all the biting he’s been doing the last few hours. His eyes are soft as he stares at him, staring at him in a new light. 

Mike wants to lean in and kiss him again, and Will must think so too as they’re both leaning in again. 

They don’t get to kiss again, because the commotion from inside reaches outside and Will jerks back.

“Babe!” Chance calls as he opens the door, his face red from all the alcohol he consumed. He doesn’t seem to notice the strange tension between Will and Mike as he gestures for them. “Come inside! We’re going to play, bullshitttttt!” 

Will looks at him guilty before getting up. “I’m coming.” 

Mike is left alone once again. This time, he knows he wasn’t imagining it. 

The next day he wakes up and he's still in the Byer’s residence. His head is pounding and he smells waffles, and coffee, his breath smells like alcohol and he’s experiencing his first ever hangover. He groans. 

“Sleeping beauty is awake!” Jonathan laughs from the kitchen. 

“Mike?” Will asks, standing in front of him. “You okay?” 

Mike groans as he gets up, his hair completely messy, his back aching from the position and his eyes felt dry and blurry. Will giggles, ruffling his hair. Mike goes pink. 

“Will?” Mike asks, "Where am I?” 

“Still at my house,” Will whispers. “But everyone else left. You have a hangover, don’t you? You drank a lot last night.” 

“You don’t… have to go back to New York?” Mike asks, dazed.

Will shakes his head. “No. I took the week off for Jane’s wedding. I’m staying in Hawkin’s all week.” 

“Oh,” says Mike looking around. Joyce and Hopper are conversing in the kitchen as Jonathan talks lowly on the phone.

“Where’s…?” 

“Everyone left,” says Will. “Dustin and Jane are doing the last few rounds before the wedding. Lucas and Max went back to Lucas’s house.” 

“Chance?” 

“Chance had to go back to New York,” says Will. “He’s going to come back for the wedding, but he didn’t have as much luck as I did to get the week off.” 

“Oh.” 

“Are you with us now?” Will giggles. 

“Yeah, yeah,” says Mike, nodding as he shakes his head. 

“Come have breakfast,” Will says, smiling. “Mom made pancakes. Jonathan is also here, so don’t let him bully you.” 

Mike gets up after a few seconds and excuses himself into the bathroom. There’s a lot of pictures around the home, pictures of Will and their graduation. 

Pictures of him and Chance. 

He quickly looks away as he steps into the bathroom. After he freshens up, he joins the Byer’s family for breakfast. Joyce and Hopped smile at him as he sits down, and even Jonathan regards him with a smile. 

“Mike, I’m so happy to see you again,” says Joyce. “It’s been so long. I always felt that Will felt so lost without you.” 

“Mom,” says Will. 

“No,” Mike smiles. “I know he wasn’t. I think… I think it was me who was lost without Will.”

“That’s sweet,” Joyce says. “Well, I’m glad you guys are back together. It feels complete now.” 

“I agree,” says Hopper. “It didn’t feel the same without you here, kid.” 

“For Mike!” Jonathan hollers, as he raises his coffee up. 

“Jon!” Will says embarrassed. “God, are you serious?” 

Joyce laughs as Hopper raises his own cup of coffee and winks at Mike’s red face. “For Mike.” 

“Ugh…” Will whispers, as he covers his face with his hands.

After breakfast, Will invites him to the park. 

The park is the same as it used to be. Even the same swing set is there. Will runs as he gets on one and gestures for Mike to do the same. Mike follows. Will begins to swing softly. 

“So,” says Mike as he watches Will swing. “How long have you and Chance been together?” 

Will seems surprised by the question as he continues to swing. “Well… after Lucas’s and Max’s wedding, we started to see each other.”

“That long, huh?” Mike asks, biting his lip. “And you think… you’re going to stay with him?” 

Will looks at him. He comes to a stop. “I love Chance, Mike.” He whispers. “He’s been really good with me. I… I can’t see myself not being with him.” 

“Oh,” says Mike. “Okay.” 

They go silent after that. Will perks up before saying. “Hey, why don’t we go looking for a suit? I bet you don’t have one yet.” 

Mike flushes. “How did you know?” 

Will gives him a small smirk. “You might not be Mike from now, but I still know you.” 

You’re contradicting yourself, is what Mike wants to say. You told me you didn’t know who I was anymore. 

“Let’s go, I know a good place,” says Will, grabbing his hand and dragging him away. 

They spend the day walking around the mall center that opened after they graduated. So that means Mike didn’t know it. At least not yet. The Mall was different to the one that got destroyed when they were 14. It was bigger, better and even more colorful. And in Will’s words, was standing for more than a year. 

Will dragged him around the stores, all that had suits. 

They go into the first store they see. “Hey,” says Mike, looking down at the pink pants and pink blazer. Will giggles.

“I don’t know, it kinda suits you…” 

He changes into a different suit, a dark navy one, with flowers that were engraved on the corners of the sleeves. “I don’t know,” says Mike, nervously. “I don’t really like the color.” 

Will giggles. “Mm. You sure it’s not the flowers?” 

“It’s definitely not the flowers.” 

They end up choosing one of the suits with a bow. It’s thin and not too heavy, and it feels a bit big on him. But he thinks it’s nice. “I like this one,” he says. 

Will smiles, leaning against the wall. “I do too. You look nice.” 

Mike looks at him and sees the flush on Will’s face. He looks down feeling shy. 

When they leave the store one suit acquired, Will drags him to an ice cream parlor. “Remember when Steve used to work at one?” Will asks as they walk into the small little store. 

“That must be a lifetime ago for you,” says Mike. 

Will orders an oreo-cookie ice cream. Mike settles for mint chocolate. 

They sit outside as they eat their ice cream. “You know,” says Will. “When I think about back then… when I was a kid. A teenager, I guess,” he shrugs. “I get sad.” 

Mike bites his lip. “Why?” 

“I was…” says Will, his eyes recalling the past. “I wasn’t happy with myself. I think I depended too much on others. And my feelings… they were a mess.” 

Mike looks down. When he thinks of being a teenager, which he still is, technically. Even in this adult body, he thinks they were the best years. Is that what adult Mike thinks too? 

“But… then I realized that my life didn’t end when I was sixteen,” says Will. “There were more things to look forward to. I was too stuck in the moment to realize.” 

Mike stares at Will. Once again, admiring his beauty. How selfless Will had truly been all his life. His eyes had seen so much, he had been through so much, and yet, Will shone like a star in the moonlit sky, the one thing leading the path to heaven. 

Mike was in love. 

He looks away as he realizes this. Will has ice cream dropping down his chin, and he laughs as he tries to scoop it up with his finger. 

Mike leans forward and wipes his face with a napkin. Will stops and stares, his face flushing as he looks away. His face breaks out in a grin as he shoves his ice cream into his face. Mike splutters confused as ice cream drips from his own chin. Will laughs, his head falls back. He looks ethereal like this. Mike can’t look away. 

Has he always been in love with his best friend? 

Was he too late? 

I’m in love with Chance, Mike. 

He looks away. 

“Hey, why don’t we go there?” Will points to a Photo Booth. “I haven’t been in one of these since I graduated college.” He grabs onto Mike’s hand again and drags him into the Photo Booth. 

Will takes out a few coins before putting them in. 

The machine starts up a menu. “Okay, are we feeling animals, food…?” Will asks as he clicks through the menu of filters. When Mike doesn’t answer, Will just clicks a shuffle menu. 

“Okay, it has a timer,” Will says, starting it up. “Let’s do a smiling one, a silly one and then a random one!” He smiles at him. 

1…2…3… Click! 

Will throws a peace sign as Mike smiles into the camera. The filter is animals. Will is a cat and Mike is a puppy. 

1…2…3…Click! 

Will sticks his tongue out and Mike expresses a frown. This filter is a strange cartoon one, with little characters looking at them. 

For the last one, Will seems to be getting ready to do another silly expression. “Will,” says Mike. 

1… 

Will looks at him with questioning eyes. “Mike?” He asks. Mike’s eyes flick up and down, from his eyes to his lips. The tension from yesterday wasn’t forgotten.

2… 

Will seems to realize too as he flushes deeply, his eyes shining. 

Mike brings his hands up and grabs Will’s face before bringing their lips together. The filter that is chosen, is the couples one. Hearts fly around them, as the picture is taken. 

3… Click! 

They stay rooted like that for a few moments, lips moving together softly. They pull away, eyes locking as they breath in each other's air. 

It’s not until he realizes that Will is crying. 

“Will?” 

“Why did you do that?” Will whispers. “Why?” 

“I…”

“I told you, Mike. I love Chance.” 

The machine prints out both strips of their pictures. Will gets out, quickly wiping his eyes. 

“Will, wait!” 

“Mike,” says Will. “I know… you have things you want to patch up. But it can’t be this way. If you want me in your life, we can only be friends. I’m sorry.” 

Will walks away, and Mike doesn’t have the courage to follow him. 

Mike makes it back to his apartment. He looks at the strips from the Photo Booth. He stares at it longingly. 

The kiss Will and him shared was photographed by the machine so beautifully. Will looked like he belonged there, right next to him. Why hadn't he realized sooner? 

It’s probably why he never was able to say I love you to El. All those months of him throwing away letters to Will, all those phone calls he missed. All those letters that Will sent him. 

Had he been blind this entire time? 

His eyes go to the painting rolled in his book bag. He takes it out, and unrolls it. 

There was no way El commissioned this, he realizes. But he had been too blind and giddy to see the treasure in front of him. The boy he truly loved. The painting given to him with so much devotion and care, adult Mike must’ve realized the same thing. 

The next few days are agonizingly slow. He stays cooped up in the apartment, ignoring the outside world. 

Wednesday falls, and Lucas is calling him. 

When he picks up, Lucas asks if he’s ready. 

“What?” He asks, confused. 

“The bachelor party?” Lucas says. “Hello? Did you forget?” 

Oh, right. Dustin’s bachelor party. 

“No, sorry. I didn’t forget.” Mike says, getting up. “Um… what time is it at?” 

If he could see Lucas’, he would probably be rolling his eyes. “It's at 8pm, be ready by then!” 

He gives him no other instruction. So Mike waits. 

He waits and waits until 8 pm finally rolls around and he’s seeing Lucas’s car parking outside. Dustin is laughing already, as Mike comes down and greets them. Will is in the back, but he doesn’t look at him. 

“The gang is back together!” Dustin hollers, excitedly. Mike sits in the back, looking at Will. Feeling the ache in his chest as Will doesn’t look his way. 

“It’s too bad Chance couldn’t be here,” Lucas says as he starts driving. “I know how much he wanted to.” 

“Well, work is more important,” says Will, agitated. “To him, apparently.” 

“Oh… trouble in paradise?” Dustin giggling. “Don’t worry, I don’t have a problem with him coming. I’m just happy that I can see both you and Mike in the same room again!” 

“Yeah,” says Will, tightly. 

Mike doesn’t attempt to get Will’s attention again. “So… who’s El having her bachelors with?” 

“With Max and a few girls they’re friends with,” says Lucas. “But I think they’re just at home having a girls sleep over.” 

“Where are we going?” Mike asks. 

“To a bar…!” Dustin sings. “The night is young, boys!”

They get to a small little bar at the edge of town. Lucas and Dustin laughing together as Will slams his door shut. Mike tries to say something, but Will ignores him as he follows them in. 

The bar is packed, filled with all types of people. Music plays loudly over the bar, but Mike doesn’t even feel like attempting to party. Will completely shuts away from him, as if the last few days meant nothing. Dustin and Lucas dance together, and Will stays seated in their booth, drinking a lemonade. 

“Will?” He asks. 

Will turns to him. “What?” 

“I’m sorry…” says Mike. “I didn’t mean to hurt you.” 

Will frowns, sucking his straw. “You didn’t.” 

“But…” 

“You didn’t do anything,” says Will, but it sounds false. “It’s my fault. You’re not really Mike. At least not from now. So…” he looks away. “I shouldn’t have been around you like that.” 

Mike clenches his fist. “So… you would rather us continue to be apart like before?” 

Will looks at him. “I never said that, Michael.” 

Again. Michael. 

“It’s not my fault that I, as an adult, am a shitty person!” Mike says, angrily. “I’m trying to fix this. I really am!” 

“There’s nothing to fix, Michael,” says Will. “You never had to fix anything. I told you. Things happen, people grow apart.” 

“So how come I never said happy birthday to you before?” Mike asks, frustration in his voice. “How come Joyce hasn’t seen me in so long?! People grow apart, I get it, but I would still be in your life!” He feels the tremble in his voice. “We would still see each other, even if it’s once a year! But four years, Will?! That’s insane! That’s insane for us! We are best friends!” 

“We were,” Will corrects. He looks down. “I… I’m sorry, Mike. I can’t do this. Tell Lucas and Dustin I got sick.” 

“Will!” Mike calls, as Will leaves. 

He groans, throwing his hands up. 

“Hey, where did Will go?” Dustin asks. But Mike doesn’t give him an answer as he goes running out after Will. Will couldn’t have gotten that far. 

The streets are empty, and Will must’ve decided to go back walking instead of catching a ride. 

He finds him a little further down. “Will!” He calls catching up to him. “Will, please! Please stop!” 

“Mike, what do you want?” Will whirls around, glaring at him. “I tell you to leave me alone and you follow me. Why?!” 

“I…” Mike wants to scream. “I love you, Will.”

Will goes silent.

“I think I’ve always loved you, Will,” Mike says. “I fucked up. I don’t know what I did for us to stop being us, Will, but I know I did, okay? And…I’m sorry. But I love you, and I want you. And… I can’t sleep at night, knowing that I could’ve had you. A lifetime ago.” He feels it in his chest, the ache, the hurt. 

“I love Chance, Mike,” says Will. 

“Will. Please,” Mike begs. “Don’t be with him. Be with me.” He holds his hands out. “I’m sorry about these past few years, but we could make up for it now. We can.” 

Will looks away, his eyes are holding back tears. “You can’t just turn back time.” 

“Why not?” Mike whispers, feeling his own eyes water. 

“I moved on,” says Will. “You moved on.” 

Mike looks away as Will says, “We’ve both gone down different paths for so long. And we’ve made choices… and I… I chose Chance, Mike.” 

His chest hurts. 

“We care about each other, you know?” Will whispers. “And while these past few days… have brought back feelings I thought I would never feel about you again… I can’t do that to Chance.” 

Mike breathes shakily. “I love you, Will. You’re my best friend.” 

Will wipes his eyes. Mike’s heart stutters about how beautiful he looks even while crying. “Mike I… I’ve always loved you.” He whispers. “I don’t think I’ll ever stop loving you. But… I can’t continue to drag myself down.” 

The words that were said were true, Mike knew. He thinks he always knew. The longing glances, the way Will would smile up at him when they were kids. Even now, he believes him

They hold each other's gaze for a few moments, their eyes never leaving each other. But Will holds firm in his decision, as he breaks their eyes away and wipes his tears. “Goodbye, Mike.” He says, as he turns and walks away. 

Mike’s eyes feel like waterfalls with the way the tears fall, he bends down, feeling the sobs that had been constricted off his chest, break free. 

This time, Mike didn’t follow him. 

Mike wakes up with a gasp, he sits up feeling his breathing go in and out. He looks around, seeing the motel room. “Oh my god,” he whispers looking at the time on the clock. 

Will comes out of the bathroom, toweling his hair. He pauses, looking at Mike. “Are you okay?” 

Mike flies off the bed, before barreling Will into a hug, they both go tumbling down, their bodies hitting the ground roughly. 

“Ow,” whines Will. “Mike?” 

“Will,” says Mike, feeling his eyes water. “Will.” 

“Mike,” repeats Will, confused. 

“Will, I love you,” he whispers. 

Will goes still, looking up. 

“What?” 

“Will,” Mike cries. “Will, I love you. I’m sorry for everything,” he hugs him tight. 

Will seems to be in shock, because he doesn’t move or say anything for the next few seconds. 

“You… love me?” He whispers. 

“Will,” Mike whispers, looking down at him. “I love you so much that it hurts,” he puts his hand on his chest. “That it physically hurts thinking about you not being with me.”

“But…” Will whispers, confused. “What about El?” 

There’s a future out there that could happen, Mike thinks. And if his future was really like that, then it meant him and El were never meant to be. “I love El,” he says. “But I only love her as a friend.” 

Will looks at him in surprise, his eyes wide with tears. 

“But I love you Will, so much more than just a friend,” he whispers. “And… I’m sorry it took me so long to realize it.” 15 years, Mike thinks. 15 long years of his other self pining like a fool, writing a book about him and Will, and never having the courage to say those words to him. 

But Mike promises he’ll be different. He’ll never let Will doubt himself again. 

Never let him feel like a mistake. 

“I know El didn’t commission that painting,” he says. Will’s eyes widen even more. “You did that for me, didn’t you?” 

It seems like a long time passed before Will nods. “I…did,” he whispers. “How did you know?” 

Mike brings their foreheads together, their eyes meeting. “I know everything about you, silly.” 

Will giggles, his eyes shiny as tears fall down. “Is that so?” 

Mike grabs his face, before slamming their lips together. It’s rough at first, before it turns soft and mushy. Their eyes close, lips moving against each other in rhythm. Mike lets go of his face before gripping his waist, holding tightly like he would disappear. 

Like this was another dream, and he would wake up soon. He didn’t want this to end. 

He thinks about the other Mike, the one that lost Will in his empty apartment. The one where he was too late. Will waited, and he waited for so long. 

But Mike wasn’t going to be late anymore. 

Will sighs dreamily against his lips, and Mike pulls away smiling. “Still there?” 

“This isn’t a dream, right?” Will whispers. 

Mike laughs wetly,  kissing his forehead. “Trust me, baby. It’s not.”

Will blushes at the pet name. “So that means… we’re boyfriends now?” 

Mike gives him another kiss, slower this time. He savors his time. When he pulls away he nods. “You’re not getting rid of me.” 

Will giggles again before pulling him into another kiss. They had a lot to talk about. A lot to figure out. But the one thing Mike knew is that Will wasn’t going to suffer anymore. At least not because of him. 

Two years later 

“My babies are graduating!” Joyce cheers as Will and El smile at the camera. They're both holding up flowers. 

“You guys look great!” Jonathan says as he takes the camera and Joyce and Hopper stand next to them to take the next picture. 

“Are you excited?” Will whispers. 

El nods, her cheeks rosy. “I am so excited. School sucks.” 

Will laughs. “School does suck.” 

“But NYU is calling your name,” says Jonathan. “It’s calling you Will Byers.” 

“Mike… is also going to NYU?” El asks, curiously. 

Will nods. “He’s coming with me.” 

El smiles, her eyes crinkling. “I am glad.” 

When they’re done taking pictures they meet at the graduation ceremony. The school is packed and the parking lot is full. But the others soon get there as they all get out of individual cars. Lucas, Max, and Dustin all run up to them, grinning. El and Dustin are currently sending each other flirty eyes, which makes Will giggle every time he watches. If only they were brave enough to just say it out loud. 

“Will!” Mike calls, as he hops off the car and hugs him tightly. Mike peppers his face with kisses, not caring about other people seeing them. 

“Mike!” Will groans playfully as Mike hugs him around the waist, lifts him up and twirls him. 

“How is my pretty boyfriend doing?” Mike whispers. 

Will blushes. “You’re too much.” 

Mike gasps affronted. “Showing my boyfriend the love and support he deserves is too much?” Will giggles. Mike smiles as he kisses him one more time. “NYU is calling our name, baby.” 

“Yeah, it is.” 

They tone down the PDA after that. Hawkins is still a super small town with wandering eyes. But New York will be different, Will knows. They’re more accepting, more people like them. 

After the ceremony, and hugging classmates he’ll probably never see again, they’re huddling in their own group. 

“We should go to an after party,” Max suggested. “You know. In time to get ready for those College ragers.” Lucas smiles and gives her a kiss on the cheek. 

“I agree.” 

“Gross!” Will and Mike yell. 

Max sways them. “Don’t act like you weren’t about to eat each other's faces off earlier.” 

“Will!” Someone calls after him. When he turns around, it’s one of the jocks. “Hey.” 

Will looks at him confused. “Do I know you?” 

“No… my name is Chance,” he holds his hand out. Will doesn’t know why, but he feels the moment Mike stiffens next to him, holding onto his hand tightly. “I just wanted to invite you guys to a party tonight. You should all be there!” He laughs, smiling at them. 

“Do you know him?” Will asks after he leaves. 

“Huh? No, why?” Mike asks. 

Will narrows his eyes. 

Mike smiles down at him. “Did you?” 

“I’ve never met him,” says Will, confused. 

“He’s had the hots for you,” Max says. 

“Max!” Dustin and Lucas exclaim. 

El giggles. “Mike will get jealous.” 

For some reason, Mike grins before pulling Will into a kiss. They all groan. Will looks up dazed. Mike smiles. “Nah, I’m not.” Mike says. “Because he chose me.” 

Will blinks, wondering what he meant. 

“Right?” Mike whispers. 

Will smiles. “Of course, I did. I will always choose you.” 

With those words, Mike grins fully radiating happiness and joy. His eyes sing with love as he looks at Will like he hung the moon and stars. To him, it might be true. 

But Will thinks that Mike is the one who held the moon and stars for him. 

12 years later  

When Mike and Will move into their first apartment together, Mike couldn’t believe how lucky he got. How lucky he got this life.

Mike publishes his book, celebrating a coming of age story about two boys. And Will illustrates for him, still having his dreams come true to be an artist. 

They kiss and they laugh and they live. 

Mike doesn’t regret a single thing.