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Mike Wheeler was a walking hazard. Will Byers was soon going to go into cardiac arrest because of him. Currently, Mike was standing in front of him, putting on eye shadow on Will. He looked like a dream, bathed in the white lights of his room, face scrunched in deep concentration.
“My costume does not need this much of makeup, Mike,”
“I am not going to be the only guy wearing makeup there, Will. If I go down you go down with me,” Mike muttered, stepping back to take a look at his work.
Mike looked like a dream. His hair was straightened and it reached up to his shoulders, cut into a stylish wolfcut. At first Will didn’t like it because he missed Mike’s curls, but soon he started loving it. The haircut made his androgynous features pop, managing to turn heads wherever he went. It made Will’s stomach churn with pride and regret; pride because he was with this boy and regret because he was not actually with him.
And Will was a coward. He was a coward for not confessing his feelings to Mike. He was a coward for wanting to keep his friendship with Mike, even if he couldn’t have a relationship with him. If Mike rejected him, he wasn’t sure if he could live without having him in his life. Or even worse: maintaining a friendship and seeing him dating other people, whom he didn’t reject. Will would rather not confess and hold their friendship close to his heart. It was already killing him slowly. Knowing that tonight people will definitely ask Mike to dance and Mike will say yes and he will have to watch, waiting in the corner like a loser.
“Fine,” Will muttered, letting Mike do what he wanted. He would jump down the quarry back home if Mike asked him to. He was a sucker for this boy.
It was a new thing, Mike experimenting with makeup. He had tried it first when El and Max had practiced on Mike, showing him his true potential. A simple eyeliner would do wonders on his eyes, making them go extra doe-like and soft, Will knew by experience.
“Great,” Mike stepped back, closing his burrowed eye shadow palette.
“Come on, look at us, Will”
Will sighed, stepping up next to Mike to take a look at himself in the mirror. He looked good, with his black shirt with rolled up sleeves and a prim waistcoat that fitted him like a glove. It was not a secret that he had put up some muscle, thanks to his workout sessions with Lucas. The fitting shirt made his biceps look good, he was not gonna lie, showing him that the workout had paid off. And Mike had done an amazing job with his makeup, giving him a subtle smokey eye. It contrasted with his outfit, but it kind of suited him.
And Mike. Mike was glowing.
He wore a loose shimmery white blouse with bell sleeves, which had a v-neck exposing his skin up to his chest. The blouse was cropped short, showing a sliver of his marble white skin above the waistline of his high waisted white pants. Whenever he moved, Will’s eyes caught on an exposed sliver of skin, making his heart stutter with want. He was also wearing makeup, courtesy of Will, to highlight his costume. Will had done eyeliner and mascara on him, making his eyes appear wider and softer than they already were. A subtle dusting of blush and highlighter was doused on top of his cheekbones to complete the look. He was going as a porcelain doll tonight. His pale skin and a skinny figure was an added bonus for the costume.
In other words, Mike looked beautiful. And they looked good together in the mirror. Like really good.
The doll and his collector.
It was a far cry from their embarrassing childhood costumes. An attempt to be cool rather than accurate.
It was Mike’s idea to do what looked suspiciously like a couple’s costume for this halloween. Will didn’t dare to hope, because his poor heart had to tolerate so much these past months. Mike would tease him, give him fleeting touches, flirt with him, but there were no solid affirmations for Will to grasp on. So Will dismissed it. Mike was naturally a flirt, and ever since they were kids, Mike had been very touchy with him. And now in college, Mike was still like that, and Will hoped it was a childhood-best-friend thing Mike did, for the sake of his heart.
“We look good,” Will said finally.
“I told you so,” Mike wiggled his eyebrows at him in the mirror.
God, Will wanted to grab him and kiss him then and there.
“Are you guys done or what?” Max yelled from the living room.
“One second!” Mike yelled back, rolling his eyes.
Will stepped away from Mike, because it was too much feeling Mike’s shoulder brush against his chest. It hurt so much being close to him but not being able to touch.
“Let’s go,” Mike said, grabbing his hand and dragging him out of his room.
“You look good, Will,” Max said, winking at him.
“Thanks, Max,” Will blushed.
“Stop flirting with him, Max,” Mike snapped at Max.
“Oh, are you jealous, Wheeler?”
It was Mike’s time to blush. He ignored Max and turned to Will.
“Let’s go, yeah? Can you drive? Because I don’t want to think right now,”
“Yeah, yeah, of course,” Will said. How could he ever say no to Mike?
“I didn’t know you were capable of thinking, Mike,” Max retorted, making Mike glare at him.
The three of them climbed in Mike’s car, and Will drove them to Jason’s party listening to Mike and Max’s bickering all the way.
–
The party was in full force when they arrived. Dustin, Lucas, and Jane had already arrived and were pleasantly tipsy, slowly loosening themselves with alcohol. Most of the people were dressed up as either witches or wizards or cats or vampires, but Will could see a spot of creativity here and there. There was a clown and two balloons, where two people were dressed up as actual balloons, and there was a cow with black and white paint all over themselves and there were some that Will couldn’t identify. Him and Mike probably fell into that category as well. But Mike actually did look like a porcelain doll.
His pale skin glowed against the lights, the shimmery body glitter he was wearing caught light whenever he moved. It was everywhere; on his neck, across his collarbones, smeared down his chest, spread along his waist and glimmering on his arms. His lashes were coated with mascara and every time he blinked, Will was sure that somewhere the butterfly effect caused a tornado. He was a sight for the sore eyes.
Lucas handed him a red solo cup, filled to the brim with some unknown liquid.
“I am the driver tonight, Lucas,” he muttered. Lucas probably didn’t hear him.
Mike grabbed the cup from him and started chugging down the contents of his cup. Will watched his throat bob with every gulp, the pale line of his neck exposed.
Will sighed.
It was going to be a long night.
–
Mike was dancing. With some guy. And Will was watching, a cup of fucking apple juice in his hand.
Mike’s hands were thrown in the air, above his head, swaying with the music. The guy was dancing in front of him, hands steady on Mike’s hips. He pulled Mike closer, making him tip his head back. Mike slowly lowered his hands on to the guys shoulders.
It was fucking torture. Mike looked exactly like a doll, all pale smooth skin, slender limbs, and a waist that disappeared under the man’s hands. He looked delicate and breakable, and Will’s heart ached to hold him, give him everything he wanted, so precious and pure.
The man lowered his head to the crook of Mike’s neck, and Will saw Mike’s whole body tense up, his spine going rigid.
And suddenly Mike stepped back. Will focused, trying to see if the guy had done something that made Mike uncomfortable. He would go and bash his head into the glass cabinet behind them right then and there. But the guy also looked genuinely confused when Mike turned around and walked away.
Will followed after him to the balcony of the apartment.
“Mike?”
Mike turned around, smiling brightly when his eyes caught the sight of Will.
“Hey,” he muttered, voice soft and sweet as honey. He stumbled towards Will, hands outstretched, grabbing the front of his waistcoat.
“Was looking for you,” his speech was slurred.
God, how much did he drink?
“Yeah? But I thought you were having fun with that guy,” Will said, steadying Mike by holding him by his arms. Mike pouted and wrapped his arms around Will’s shoulders sighing against his neck. Will shuddered bodily, hands coming up automatically to rest on Mike’s bare waist. He felt the goosebumps on his cool skin, making the heat explode from his core and go straight to the south.
Shit. Fuck. Mike was drunk. And Will was having inappropriate thoughts about him.
Will needed to get his shit together.
“No. Wasn’t you,” Mike mumbled, disposing his full body weight on Will.
“Wasn’t me?”
“Wasn’t you dancing,” his words sloshed out of his mouth, his hot breath fanning his neck. Will gulped.
Focus. He urged himself.
“Wanna go home?”
“No, wanna dance,” Mike pulled back, his dark brown eyes locking straight with Will’s. “With you,”
“Yeah?” Will licked his lips.
Mike’s eyes flipped towards the movement and he blinked up at him again looking like he was willing to take the risk.
Mike’s own lips were plush and pink, highlighted with the gloss Will had applied earlier.
God, Will wanted him so bad. He had never felt the urge to kiss him so bad. His lips looked inviting, and Will couldn’t stop looking. His lashes cast shadows atop his cheekbones, where the subtle rosy blush smeared before was now glistening with a sheen of sweat.
Mike leaned in with eyes closed and Will suddenly snapped back into focus.
“Hey, hey woah,” Will pushed him back gently, “You are drunk, Mike,”
“Yes, and?”
“We are not doing this while you are drunk,” Mike was pouting, staring at Will, eyebrows scrunched looking just like a kicked puppy.
“I am not that drunk”
“Yes, you are,” Will muttered.
“But-”
“No buts, we’ll do this when you are sober,” Will said, hands rubbing gently sling his sides.
“Yeah? But you ignore me all the time, when I’m sober,” Mike was pouting, his hands playing with the hairs on Will’s nape. It was clear that he was nervous and sad. And it made Will’s heart ache, seeing Mike sad.
“Mike, that’s not- I never ignore you,”
“Yes you do. You ignore me all the time. When I invite you to hang out with me, you always say some bullshit and slip away, Will”
Well, that was not true. Will did hang out with Mike sometimes with the party, but the one-on-one hangouts were impossible for him to do. Mike always ended up way too close to him, he would bat his stupidly long eyelashes at him and Will wouldn't– couldn’t hold it back anymore. He needed Mike. He wanted to kiss him until he ran out of breath, grasping at Will’s shoulders, begging him to stop. It was a living, breathing thing that lived inside his chest, roaring and clawing at his rib cage whenever Mike was close. Right now, it was screaming at Will to go for it. To spill all his secrets to Mike. And kiss him in the same breath.
Ok. He can do this. One thing at a time.
First he needed to confess to Mike.
Maybe after, when Mike is sober, he can kiss him.
“I don’t ignore you because I don’t want to spend time with you, Mike,” Will sighed. His hands were still on Mike’s waist, thumbs pressed against his abdomen, others curved around his sides.
Mike’s eyebrows knitted together, a familiar frown Will found adorable for years.
“It’s because-because I want us to be- be more than what we are now,” Will said finally.
Mike’s frown melted, his features arranging into a soft grin.
“You are so stupid Will Byers,” Mike was laughing now, ducking his head, so that his forehead rested on Will’s chest, making Will feel butterflies erupt in his stomach.
Mike was an adorable drunk.
“What?” he asked, “What’s so funny?”
“You,” Mike wheezed, looking up at him. “I flirted with you for months, Will! I tried to plan dates with you all the time, but you came up with a stupid excuse, every single time! I literally planned a couple’s costume for us, Will, what else do you want me to do?”
“Mike-”
“I lay out every single that this there on earth to say that I want you and you didn’t fucking take the hint!” Mike shoved Will, pressing his both hands on his chest. It was a weak attempt given Mike’s drunk state.
“You want me? For real?” Will’s voice was soft as he held on to Mike’s wrists, trapping them against his chest.
“Of course, Will, how could I not?” Mike whispered, his waterline suddenly brimming with tears, “Wanted you for years,”
“Oh Mike,” Will murmured, pulling him close, “I-I’m sorry, I didn’t realize,”
Mike let out a quiet sob, muffled against his waistcoat.
“Hey, please don’t cry,” Will muttered, pulling Mike back from him. Mike sniffled but nodded, wiping his eyes.
“Kiss me tomorrow then? When I am sober?”
“Of course, but only if you remember this,” Mike huffed.
“I will definitely remember this, Will Byers,” Mike said haughtily, lifting his nose in the air.
“Let’s get you home then,” Will said, wrapping an arm around Mike’s waist. Mike leaned against him, sighing contentedly.
They said their goodbyes, ignoring the knowing looks from the party. Will drove them home carefully, Mike half-asleep in the passenger seat, fingers loosely intertwined with Will’s across the center console the entire way.
As soon as Will pulled into their driveway, he couldn’t help but feel the happiness seep into his bones properly. He took a look at Mike’s form, who grinned sleepily at him.
“What are you staring at?” he asked, words mushed together and soft.
“You look beautiful”
“I am drunk and I cried and fell asleep in the car, I probably look like a mess right now,” Mike muttered, hands coming up to cover his face.
Will grabbed one and pressed a kiss to the back of it.
“Still beautiful”
Mike blushed, his pale skin tinting with a rosy hue that Will wanted to use in his paintings forever.
He took another look at the sleepy Mike and got out of the car. And walked towards Mike’s side and opened it.
Mike lifted his arms up,“Carry me inside?”
God, it was adorable.
Will helped him out, and slid a hand behind his back and knees and lifted him up in a swift motion.
“Will! I was joking-”
“Well, I’m not,” Will said, unable to stop smiling.
Mike laughed, bright and unguarded, looping his arms loosely around Will’s neck anyway. “Wow. Such a capable gentleman. Is there anything you can’t do, sir?”
“Plenty,” Will muttered, adjusting his grip. “But I can carry you.”
“Yeah? You’ve become so strong, Will. I can’t believe you are not that scrawny twelve year old anymore. Guess I need to thank Lucas for that though,” Mike was rambling and Will couldn’t help but blush.
“You can thank me instead,” Will whispered, ducking his head to catch Mike’s expression. Mike pressed his lips together trying to hide his splitting grin.
“Yeah?” he asked looking up at Will.
“Tomorrow morning, ok?”
“I’ll keep that in my mind,”
“You sure should”
Mike hummed contentedly and rested his head against Will’s shoulder, eyes already fluttering shut. Will felt his beast finally purr with approval, with Mike in his arms. Will carried him inside carefully, like he was something precious, something fragile and real. A real life porcelain doll.
He kicked the door closed with his foot and padded quietly to Mike’s room.
Once he laid Mike down on the bed, Mike caught his wrist.
“Don’t disappear tomorrow,” he murmured sleepily.
Will stilled. “I won’t.”
“Promise?”
“I promise,” Will said, leaning down and brushing a soft kiss to Mike’s temple. It felt safe. It felt earned.
Mike smiled, eyes closed now. “Good. ’Cause I’m going to kiss you sober. A lot.”
Will laughed quietly, chest warm and full in a way it had never been before. He tucked a blanket around Mike, watching him drift off, glitter still dusted across his skin, makeup smudged, beautiful in a way
that made Will ache.