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Will’s nightmares have been getting better. He hasn’t been falling off his small twin sized bed, and he hasn’t punched his best friend in the stomach by accident again from fighting monsters that weren’t there.
Mike had been….helpful. More than helpful, to be fair. For the longest time after they moved into the dormitory Mike slept with him, cradling him into his chest when Will woke with frantic panic and the sour taste in his mouth that he thought would never go away.
Fortunately though, he was getting better. He slept a couple hours more, and only woke up twice during the night, both times to find Mike curled up again him, cheek on Will’s shoulder.
Will tried to convince himself he was okay with it. With how close they’d become. Well- that sounded wrong. Will was nothing but happy that him and Mike had gotten closer in the summer between college. It was all he had wanted back then when they were still battling against the upside down, to have his best friend back.
He was just….getting used to it. Getting used to how Mike was clingier now, how he held Will in his sleep like it was the most natural thing in the world. How Mike casually drank from the same cups as Will when he offered him a sip, like his coffee in the mornings when Will had to go to class early.
A part of him knew he needed to put boundaries. He wasn’t sure how Mike had gone from not being able to properly hug him in the summer he’s visited California to suddenly seeking touch all the time.
Will loved it.
Deep down, he did. But that yearning and love that he had for every time Mike touched him casually wasn’t normal. At least not for him. For Mike, it was most likely something of little importance, but for Will it meant the world. Mike wasn’t like him, Will had gotten clear of that.
They were friends.
Best friends.
And he was okay with that.
He wakes up to the sound of quiet cursing and shuffling. The morning light filters through the window above his bed, making the room feel light.
Will yawns, turning over in bed to see Mike, looking for something under his bed urgently, like a chicken without a head. “It’s so early,” he croaks, his voice filled with sleep. Mike looked like he had gotten freshened up already, so Will assumed he was leaving for class.
“It’s actually nine.” Mike says, smiling at him briefly before turning back around to look under his pillows now. “Do you have to be so loud?” He complains, running a hand over his face. Mike grumbles something under his breath, standing from his kneeling position next to the bed. “Got it!” He grins, showing Will the crumpled twenty dollar bills he had been looking for apparently. “All that ruckus for cash?” Will asks, raising a brow.
Mike leans over, brushing a piece of hair out of Will’s eyes and stuffing the money into the front pocket of his bag. Will feels his stomach flip at the gesture, but he ignores it and waits for Mike’s answer.
“It’s how I get around okay? I can’t survive without my daily dose of vending machine snacks.”
“That’s unhealthy.” Will says matter of factly, sitting up and leaning against the headboard. Mike looks over at him, making a brief face before shrugging. “Don’t care. I get hungry.”
“Right.” Will murmurs, rubbing his eyes. “Will you be back soon or what?”
“Don’t you have class?” Mike asks, hands on hips. Will’s face goes through a faze of realization before he’s getting up and out of bed hurriedly, tripping over a pair of Mike’s sneakers. “I’m going to be late! I’ll see you late though!” He says over his shoulder, heading for the door. “Remember to drink water okay?” Will looks at him while he’s sliding on a shirt, nodding. “Okay.” He says, just so that he’s satisfied. Will knows he will probably forget to drink water later anyway.
When Mike came back, Will was cuddled into his comforter, his book in his lap.
“Reading?” Mike smiles, taking off his shoes with a relieving grunt. Will’s lips tilt upwards immediately, glad that he’s finally home and they can finally talk about their day. It was Will’s favorite part of the day, telling each other what they’d done the whole day, if they hadn’t seen each other on campus.
“Yeah, I’m tired as hell. Chemistry was really long today.”
“Yeah? Try listening to Mr. Forbes talk about creative writing for two whole hours, I felt like my ass was going to morph into the leather of the seat.” Will laughs, giggling into his hand. “You’re so funny.” He says with a sigh. Mike smiles, walking over and sitting on the edge of his bed.
Will moves over to give him space, putting his book down and focusing fully on his best friend now.
“Mike,” he says with a knowing grin. “You’re sleeping in your own bed right?” Mike looks away teasingly, avoiding his eyes. “Uhm….what’s wrong with me taking a small nap here?”
“Don’t you miss your own bed?”
“No, yours is the exact same one.”
Will sighs heavily, shifting to lay down, looking at Mike as he moves as well, pulling the comforter up to his chin like a little boy.
Will saw the reflection of Mike’s younger self in that moment, like when they’d have sleep overs and Mike would hide under the covers with a fit of giggles.
“What, you want me gone?” Mike asks him, raising a brow. “I’ll let you stay, if you don’t kill me to cuddles.” Will probably shouldn’t have said that, and it dawned on him the moment the evil look appears on Mike’s face.
He looks like he’s about to—
He lunges at him, wrapping his arms around his middle and attacking his face with….kisses…? Will freezes for a moment, but he can’t stay frozen too long because Mike starts poking him, getting giggles to fall from his lips effortlessly.
“Mike stop it—!” He laughs, his face tingling from Mike’s lips. This was too much. Surely Mike couldn’t think this was what normal friends did right? Will couldn’t help but blush, shoving Mike away.
“You challenged me.” He says, pouting. Will’s eyes move on auto pilot, and they fall on his lips. He swears that for a second, the world slows down. Mike’s face is close. Closer than it had been a second ago.
“Mike?” He whispers hesitantly, in case he’s dreaming of the way Mike’s hand is on his elbow, holding him in place, his lips inches from Will’s.
What’s happening? He thinks, panicking. “Mike.” He says more firmly. “What?” Mike’s voice comes out dreamy almost, like how it is when he’s tired and sleepy. Will’s stomach dips lowly. “You’re really close.” He whispers, aware of every point their bodies are touching.
Mike’s hand on his elbow.
Their socked feet against each other under the blanket. Mike’s knee between his leg slightly.
His breath hitches once again. Mike’s eyes dart to his lips, and the movement makes Will nervous because Will doesn’t know what’s happening.
“Did you know I love you?” Mike says suddenly, his voice quiet. Will’s throat close up for a moment, making it hard to breathe. It’s not like Mike hasn’t told him before.
‘I love you’ was something they said to each other daily.
But the way Mike said it felt different. It was so very soft it made Will’s stomach flip, filling with butterflies like it always did when Mike spoke to him with that tone.
It did something to him.
“Yeah. I know.” He said, gulping. Mike’s hand dragged up his arm, holding his wrist gently in his hand. Will watches as he places it on his nape, his fingers testing the feeling of Mike’s soft hair there. “Do you know what I really want to do right now?” Mike asks quietly, his eyes on Will’s lips.
“What?” Will asks, chewing on his bottom lip nervously. “Kiss you.”
Will stops breathing. “Mike— you’re confused,” he says immediately, but Mike makes a noise to stop him from talking. “I know what I want.”
Did he? Will wondered. He didn’t want this—whatever this was, to ruin them.
To ruin what they’d built.
“Mike,”
Mike kissed him. Their lips moved on automatic, fast and steady, a rhythm filled with bumps of their teeth’s because of Will’s lack of experience and Mike biting his lip softly. Will makes a small noise, gripping Mike’s neck harder. “I love you,” he says, just because he can. Mike smiles against his lips, cupping his face gently.
“I love you Will Byers.” He kisses the corner of Will’s mouth gently, like he’s something delicate made out of glass. Will blushes, his stomach filling with those stupidity butterflies again. “I love you even more Mike Wheeler.” He murmurs, pecking Mike’s pink lips.
“Okay, sleep?”
“Yes please.”