Archive of Our Own ^beta

Mike hates flying.

That’s the first thing he realizes today- right after their flight gets canceled and they’re sentenced to four more hours at the airport. For some people, that might not sound so terrible. For Mike, though, it’s pure torture. Especially that he has to put up with his father, who’s been complaining ever since they’ve left the house.

“Told you we should have stayed home,” Mike’s dad says, rolling his eyes as he checks his watch for the tenth time in five minutes, as if that would make the hours go by faster. “The world wouldn’t have ended if we declined the invitation. Instead we have wasted time, money and-“

“Jesus, Ted, I’m begging you,” Karen cuts in, pinching the bridge of her nose to ease some of the pressure.

Mike doesn’t even have to look up, but he feels it when Holly turns toward him. He catches the subtle tilt of her head and the silent you thinking what I’m thinking?

Oh, she has no idea.

He pushes himself up from the chair without hesitation at the same time as Holly stands up from her seat.

“We’re going for a little walk, mom.”

“Don’t you dare leave me here alone.” Karen says with a firm voice, straightening her back as she sees her children already walking away. “Holly? Michael!”

“Sorry, mom!” Mike shouts over his shoulder, elbowing Holly when she snorts with laughter.

So yeah.

Mike officially despises flying now.

And the worst part? He’s supposed to meet up with Will tonight. Well, was because there’s no way he’ll make it on time.

They haven’t seen each other since Christmas and that- that is why Mike is so mad right now.

Seeing Will is the only reason he even agreed to go to this stupid weeding in the first place. Don’t get him wrong, he really likes Joyce. Hopper too, in his own way and he’s happy for both of them. But if Will weren’t going to be there, Mike would have found an excuse to just stay home.

He tries not to think about it as the minutes go by. But Jesus, he has so many things to say to Will. Calling is fine, he got used to it after some time, but he misses hearing his voice actually right in front of him. He misses seeing his reactions, sometimes a little too dramatic but just so Will.

When they finally call their flight, it feels less like relief but more like exhaustion winning at the moment.

The plane ride itself is a blur, honestly- Mike’s half awake, forehead pressed against the cold window as he loses himself in the soft sounds of ‘Smalltown boy’ flooding his headphones. One of his favorite songs lately, he’s not even sure why. He often finds himself rewinding the tape on his Walkman to play it again, as if on loop.

By the time they touch down in New York, it’s already late even though the flight took a little over 2 hours.

Picking up the rental car is also pure chaos, of course it is. Mike’s dad argues with the guy at the counter, something about fees that weren’t disclosed and his mother sighs for the hundredth time today. Holly is sprawled dramatically across two chairs and Mike just wants the damn keys and get it over with.

Eventually, after what feels like another hour or so, they’re on the road.

New York flies past the windows in streaks of bright, neon lights as they slowly leave the city. Mike sits in the back, leg bouncing up and down as he thinks about tomorrow.

Well, today. It’s already past midnight.

He can’t wait to see his friends again. When he found out they all were going to meet up at the wedding, he finally had something to look forward to.

Ever since college has started, their lives have gone in different directions, but the second they’re together, it’s like nothing's changed. Like they’re the same nerdy kids from Hawkins, sprawled on his basement floor like they always did.

“Mike?”

He can almost hear his mother calling, just like she used to when they lost track of time while playing Dungeons & Dragons. “Mike!”

Mike shakes his head, slightly thrown off when his mom’s voice gets louder- and this time, completely real. He blinks a few times, trying to pull himself out of his daydream, quickly grabs his bag and stumbles out of the car. Fresh and salty air of Montauk hits him in an instant.

He mutters a quiet, “Sorry,” that sounds more like it’s meant for himself than for his mom.

They walk up to the hotel together, dragging their suitcases and bags through the quiet lobby. The lights inside are dim and everything is so calm that Mike almost wonders if the place is abandoned.

As they stop at the front desk to grab their room keys, the clerk slides them across the counter wishing them a good night. Mike’s mother says something back, probably apologizing for the late arrival, but Mike is already grabbing his key and makes his way down the corridor.

“Don’t stay up too late, sweetheart,” Karen says and gives him a look.

“Fine, fine,” Mike replies and stops right in front of his door.

He slips the key into the lock, already wishing he could just go inside, throw himself onto the bed and fall asleep- anything to make the time move faster.

Mike pushes the door open, slips inside and God- he’s so glad that he doesn’t have to share the room with his parents, especially his dad. Poor Holly.

He drops his bag onto the bed and takes a moment to look around the room. It’s small and quiet, the walls painted a soft yellow. Will’s favorite color. The thought settles in his chest before he can stop it.

He drifts over to the window and looks out at the dark, barely lit, street below. Somewhere out there, Will is sleeping, probably at his mom’s and soon to be father-in-law’s place. The thought alone makes his lips twitch just slightly.

For a moment, he considers calling him and his hand hovers near the hotel phone, fingers curling around the edge of it, but he pulls back. It’s too late.

Mike suddenly shakes his head, cheeks warming up when he realizes that for the past few hours he’s been thinking about Will constantly. He should be thinking about the others too, right? They’re also here.

So he forces his mind elsewhere- wonders what Dustin is up to, if Lucas and Max are already in town.

He really should go to sleep.

Mike changes into his pajamas, crawls under the thin hotel sheets and stares at the ceiling for a while. Eventually, exhaustion wins and his thoughts blur, the dark room fades even more and sleep finally pulls him under.

The next thing he knows, the sunlight is spilling through the curtains making him stir and groan, fingers curled around the pillow to pull it onto his face. He knows he has to get up as soon as possible, the clock is ticking softly in the background and he peeks at it with one eye before almost crawling out of the bed.

The hotel feels different in the daytime, less empty and more lively as he hears chatter coming from every corner when he walks down the hall toward the hotel’s cafeteria.

His stomach rumbles, more than ready for some breakfast, but as he rounds the corner in the lobby, that’s when he sees them.

Lucas is standing near the front desk, even taller than before and Max is leaning against him, her cheek pressed warmly against her boyfriend’s shoulder.

“Holy shit,” Mike finally blurts, hand already half raised in a wave.

Lucas turns his head toward the sound, eyes lightning up at the sight of his beloved friend. “Dude, long time no see!” he calls, grinning widely.

Mike steps forward and without thinking, they throw their arms around each other in a quick, but oh so tight hug.

Max laughs from the side, her arms crossed neatly over her chest as she looks Mike up and down, the corner of her lips twitching in amusement.

“Did you walk from Hawkins all the way here on your feet? You look like a mess,” she says, but her voice lacks the bite- there’s a playful edge to it that makes it impossible to take offense.

Mike rolls his eyes, smirking and letting his arms fall from Lucas’s body. “Jeez, thanks Max. Real supportive.”

She grins, tilting her head. “Oh, the pleasure’s all mine,” she nods. “Now, can we please go and eat breakfast before they start clearing everything away? We have like… thirty minutes left.”

“Fine,” Mike laughs. “Ladies first.”

Max rolls her eyes, turning on her heel to walk toward the cafeteria. Even if they weren’t familiar with the exact layout of the hotel, the smell of fresh pastries was strong enough to guide them perfectly to the breakfast hall.

“Let him be, Max,” Lucas says with a little mischief edge in his voice. “He probably hung out with Will last night and had a teeny tiny issue to fall asleep afterward.”

Mike frowns, confusion flickering across his face. “Uh… actually, our flight got cancelled and we didn’t get here until like midnight.”

Max raises an eyebrow, glancing over her shoulder at Mike for a second. “So… you didn’t see Will at all?”

Mike shakes his head, but after a few seconds it’s like something switches in his brain and he opens his mouth again. “Wait- why wouldn’t I be able to fall asleep after seeing Will?”

Max and Lucas exchange a look, subtle but loaded with something deeper. Something shifts between them and the atmosphere thickens up almost as on cue.

“Oh…” Lucas murmurs, jaw tightening. “…so you have no idea.”

Mike halts mid step, furrowing his eyebrows as a twinge of concern creeps in. But Max and Lucas keep walking ahead, their steps deliberate and it makes Mike shake his head to put the negative thoughts away and catch up to slide right in between them.

“No idea about what?!” he groans, voice firmer now as anxiety settles in his stomach.

Max shoots him another glance, her lips pressed together tightly, almost mimicking the tense line of Lucas’ jaw. Mike’s eyes jump frantically between them as his heart picks up its pace. There’s no teasing in their expressions, no playful smirks- just a subtle, almost guilty tension that makes his stomach twist.

“Come on, what’s going on?” he asks again. “Why are you both acting like that?”

“Mike, just drop it, Will should be the one telling you.” Max murmurs, hand raising to push the door open.

They finally reach the cafeteria, the smell of coffee and all kinds of bread hitting them at once. Plates clatter softly as other hotel guests move around, their chatter echoing in the spacious room, but Mike completely ignores everything.

Max grabs a clean plate and slides a couple of sunny side up eggs onto it. Lucas picks up a plate too, pilling it with savory pancakes with bacon on top and eggs, and mumbles something about protein intake.

Mike does not give a damn about proteins or other nutrients right now. What is going on with Will?

He trails behind them, pretending to fill up his own plate while sneaking in millions of questions.

“Is Will fine?” he asks casually, but can’t help the slight tremble at the end. “Is he sick?”

Lucas glances at him, rolling his eyes slightly. “Mike, relax- he’s fine.”

Mike doesn’t stop, “Is he in danger again? Did something happen? It’s the nightmares again, right? Jesus, I knew he lied when he said he didn’t have them anymore!”

“Mike!” Max raises her voice, stopping so suddenly that Mike bumps accidentally into her back. She turns around with sharp eyes. “For God’s sake stop panicking, Will is fine- more than fine, actually.”

Mike freezes, mouth half often. “More than fine?”

Max just nods her head and turns back toward the food, clearly done with the interrogation for now.

They reach another counter and Mike grabs the first things he sees- a piece of toast and some fancy buttery croissant. Hands moving on autopilot, when his brain is still racing trying to come up with all the possibilities of what is going on.

He follows Max and Lucas to a small table near the window.

Lucas exhales, leaning back in his chair. “You need to chill,” he says. “You’ll see him in a few hours.”

Mike already opens his mouth to argue, then thinks better of it and shoves half of the croissant into his mouth instead. He chews aggressively, brows furrowed and he reaches over Lucas’s plate to steal a strip of bacon.

“Dude,” Lucas protests instantly, swatting at his hand.

Mike lets out a muffled chuckle, shrugging like he couldn’t care less.

They eat in relatively comfortable silence, but there’s still a little bit of tension lingering in the air. Mike barely manages to stop himself from blurting out yet another question that’s burning on the tip of his tongue.

Fine- if they don’t want to tell him what’s going on with Will, he’ll have to let it go. He knows Lucas and Max well enough and if they swear they’re keeping their mouths shut, there’s no point in pushing it.

They talk for a while about Dustin and most importantly about the plans to meet up with the whole party in front of the church before the ceremony. But when Mike glances at his watch, he immediately mutters a curse under his breath.

“Shit- it’s late,” he says, finishing the rest of the croissant as he stands up from his chair. “Wait for me in front of the hotel at like 2pm, I’ll ride with you, okay?”

He doesn’t even wait for their answer, he doesn’t have to.

Once he’s back in his room, the very first thing he does is head straight to the shower. After the long trip yesterday, he didn’t even have the energy to manage that.

When you’re getting ready, time goes completely feral and he barely notices as the scheduled hour creeps closer and closer with every tick of the clock.

He nearly gets himself tangled in the plastic wrap clinging to the suit that’s hanging on the rack. His mom must have put it there when he left for breakfast- after all she’d complained the whole day before that Mike would definitely wrinkle it if he took it to his room by himself.

His eyes focus on the dark grey fabric and he lets out a defeated sigh, his nose scrunching slightly in quiet disapproval.

Mike has never been the type to enjoy dressing formally, it always makes him feel… off. Like he’s suddenly putting on a costume he’s not meant to take seriously. One that doesn’t even fit him or his personality, like at all.

“Jesus Christ, stupid piece of shit, come on…” Mike growls under his breath, his fingers awkwardly fighting with the tie for a solid few minutes.

He battles the fabric for as long as he mentally can, until he finally gives up with a loud groan. Muttering to himself, he leaves his room hoping that maybe his mother could help him. Humiliating.

He’s walking down the hallway, already reaching for the doorknob of his parents’ hotel room, when a familiar voice reaches his ears.

His brows knit together for half a second, and before he can reconsider everything, he peeks carefully around the corner, making sure he stays out of sight.

“So Will is really taking Michael with him to the wedding?” Max asks Lucas, keeping pace beside him.

Mike can’t hear the full response, but he’d bet an arm that Lucas is nodding. The two of them disappear around the corner and Mike just stands there, like he’s become one with the floor.

Two very important questions hit him at once. Is he going insane, or did Max really just say that Will wants to go with him to the wedding? And why, exactly, did she suddenly use his full name?

His eyebrows twitch, lips part slightly as the realization hits him with full force.

Will wants to ask him to be his plus one at the wedding.

Oh God.

Will wants to ask him to be his plus one at the wedding.

After several seconds- which, by the way, stretch out like hours, Mike bursts into his parents’ room like his life depends on it.

“Mike, for the love of God, learn to knock!” his father yells, flinching at the sudden noise with his hand on his chest. “Your mother could’ve been changing!”

Mike ignores him completely, letting the door click shut behind him as he practically lunges for his mom, who looks more than a little alarmed by his sudden entrance.

“Mom, I need help with my tie,” Mike blurts out, his fingers twitching slightly at his sides. “Do I look okay? Be honest.”

His mom’s eyes soften the moment the words register.

“You always look good, sweetheart,” she coos, not wasting a second before stepping closer and lifting her hands to deal with the stubborn tie.

“Mom… you know what I mean,” Mike groans, clearly dissatisfied with her answer. “I don’t look ridiculous, do I? Maybe I should forget the tie, or change the shirt… oh- and could I borrow some of Dad’s cologne?”

Karen’s hands still for a fraction of a second. Her eyes widen almost comically and a quiet snort of laughter echoes through the room.

“Who are you and what have you done to my brother?” Holly raises an eyebrow, barely holding back the laugh threatening to spill out while brushing her long hair in front of the mirror.

“Mind your own business,” Mike mutters teasingly in his sister’s direction.

“Michael!” his mom raises her voice while finishing the knot of the tie. Mike immediately takes a step back, already planning to escape.

“Sorry, thank you, I’ll bring the cologne back, I’m riding with Lucas and Max!” he rattles off, grabbing his dad’s bottle from the nightstand and bolts out of the room after ignoring whatever comments his parents throw at him.

Back in his own room, Mike heads straight toward the bed, bending down to grab his bag and toss it onto the mattress. He rummages through his stuff until he pulls out a small comb and a few hair products, things he’s maybe used a handful of times in his entire life.

He doesn’t have much time left and honestly? He has no idea what he’s even supposed to do with his hair to make it look relatively good. He steps into the tiny en-suite bathroom and studies his reflection in the mirror with slightly squinted eyes.

What would Will like?

Mike runs a hand through his hair, soft waves springing back almost immediately. This is how they always look, maybe a little wilder since the Montauk air brings them out even more. Will has seen him like this like a thousand times.

But then his eyes drift to the comb on the sink. Maybe he could try a side part? He would look more grown up like that, right?

Mike’s gaze turns to his eyes in the mirror once again, his reflection looks like it’s mocking him, quietly laughing at the whole situation. Maybe he just misheard his friends’ conversation. Maybe Will isn’t planning to officially ask him to be his date after all.

His stomach tightens with anxiety- that familiar, vicious feeling that creeps in every time his thoughts about Will drift just a little too far off course, when the line between friendship and something more starts to blur. Mike hates it. He can’t even name properly what he’s feeling.

Once, he thought it was just an attachment- something normal, something that came in a package with being someone's best friend.

But when the rest of the party went their separate ways, starting new lives beyond the borders of Hawkins, Mike slowly realized that, even though Lucas and Dustin were his best friends too, the emptiness he felt when Will was gone was something he’d never felt with anyone else.

He still doesn’t fully understand what it means, or maybe he just doesn’t want to. Because it’s easier like that. Maybe keeping it buried deep inside is his way of protecting himself- of making sure he doesn’t get hurt, that their friendship stays intact.

Mike mutters a curse under his breath and lets the comb slip from his fingers into the sink, before flicking a dismissive hand at his reflection.

“You’re overthinking it,” he sighs to himself, then reaches out and switches the bathroom lights off.

He stops at the nightstand one last time to grab his dad’s cologne and sprays it on himself a couple of times, wrinkling his nose at the overpowering scent that instantly fills the room.

“Shit,” he groans, glancing at the clock on the wall.

He’s already ten minutes late. Hopefully Lucas and Max are still waiting for him outside the building.

“Where the hell have you been?” Lucas asks, rolling his eyes at Mike and already shoving the keys into the ignition to start the engine. “You’re lucky Max told me to wait for you, or I’d have left ages ago.”

“Aww, Max- I knew you adored me,” Mike grins widely, leaning forward to give Max’s bare shoulder a pleased little tap where she’s sitting in the passenger seat. “Sorry, didn’t realize it was that late.”

“Oh my god, did you dump an entire bottle of cologne on yourself?” Max groans, covering her nose with her hand and immediately cracking the window open as Lucas pulls out of the parking lot.

“Mike, I’ve known you since we were kids and I can count on one hand how many times you’ve ever smelled like any kind of cologne.” Lucas snorts.

“I use cologne all the time!”

He doesn’t.

“If I didn’t know where we were going, I’d think you were trying to hook up with someone dude. But I seriously doubt there’ll be anyone our age at the wedding beside us.”

“Maybe focus on the road instead of inventing insane theories,” Mike mutters. “And Max, could you please close the window?”

The gusts of air mess with my hair he thinks, but of course doesn’t say out loud.

The drive to the church goes by surprisingly smoothly. It’s not far from the hotel, so before they even have time to notice, they’re already parking.

Most people have arrived, he assumes judging by the amount of people flooding the outside area, but honestly Mike doesn’t even recognize half of the faces. Out of the corner of his eye, he spots his parents with Holly by their side- who unfortunately immediately wave him over.

Hesitantly, he heads their way to stand there like he’s being punished while his mom introduces him to a group of women. They coo at him, sighing about how quickly he’s grown up and how they remember him as a tiny kid.

Do people actually enjoy this kind of gathering?

He only breathes easier when Nancy walks over with Jonathan. His eyes instantly scan the area around then in hope of seeing Will, but he’s nowhere to be seen.

Mike snorts under his breath, barely holding back a laugh when he notices his sister’s outfit matching with her fiancé’s. Sometimes they’re kind of sweet- he’ll give them that.

“Jesus, why do you smell like dad?” Nancy bursts out laughing as she pulls back from the quick hug.

“No, seriously, why is everyone on my ass today?” Mike rolls his eyes, pressing his lips into a thin line. “Did Will come with you? Is Will here already?”

You sound so desperate, Wheeler, shut it. Mike thinks to himself.

“He should be here soon, buddy,” Jonathan reassures him with a smile. “They stayed behind to help mom with a few things.”

They? Mike blinks a couple of times, not quite understanding what Jonathan means by the plural.

Oh. Right. He probably also meant Hopper. Mike is so silly.

“Wheeler?”

Mike suddenly hears Dustin’s voice behind him and turns around on instinct, only to hear him speak again, “Dude, I missed you so much!”

“Dustin!” Mike shouts back all enthusiastic, as he practically throws himself at his friend to pull him into a tight hug.

“Woah, Mike, did you-“

“I swear to god, if you say one word about the cologne, I will strangle you with my bare hands.”

Dustin goes quiet for a few seconds, just blinking and staring Mike dead in the eyes.

“Dude,” he says again. “I missed you so much!”

He says like he’s rewind time just to redo that cursed sentence, opening his arms and pulling Mike into another hug. Mike snorts with laughter, patting him on the back.

“I’m about to get emotional,” Lucas jokes from behind them, though there’s a very real hint of it in his voice.

Mike turns toward him and Max, smiling when he sees how she’s practically tucked into Lucas’ side. He parts his lips to say something, but before a single sound can come out, Jonathan cuts in.

“Oh- Will’s here!” he says, already heading toward the car pulling into the lot.

Will is here.

Will is here and Will is about to ask him that question.

Mike’s heart starts pounding uncontrollably as he watches Will step out of the passenger side of the car.

He looks… stunning. Even more than the last time Mike saw him over the Christmas break. Even from a distance, he looks like he’s practically glowing with happiness. Mike swallows hard, his pupils dilating slightly.

Will is wearing a suit almost identical to Mike’s- just a shade lighter, more oversized and instead of a white shirt, he’s wearing black. His tie, perfectly matched with his jacket, hangs loosely around his neck.

Jonathan explains something to him, but even mid conversation their eyes meet. They always do. Will lifts a hand and waves energetically at Mike and Jesus, Mike’s heart stutters.

Mike waves back quickly, his other hand nervously fidgeting with the fabric at his cuff.

But then, Mike’s gaze shifts to the other side of the car and his brows knit together when he notices someone unfamiliar stepping toward Will.

Did Will come with a cousin?

Mike feels his heart skipping a beat.

Why is Will’s cousin wrapping an arm around his waist and leaning in to whisper something in his ear- something that makes Will laugh?

Everything feels like it’s moving in slow motion as the two of them walk toward the group.

“Guys!” Will squeals happily, opening his arms and throwing himself at all of them at once, trying to hug everyone. “I’m so glad you all made it!”

Mike, of course, is standing right in the middle, meaning Will is practically pressed flush against his body. He can’t move, can’t breathe and to be completely honest, he can barely hear anything because of the blood rushing in his ears.

“Shit- sorry,” Will laughs after a moment and steps back, coming to stop beside the unfamiliar boy and shyly place his hand onto the boy’s shoulder.

“I wanted to introduce someone,” he says.” “Lucas and Max already met him yesterday, but I wanted to officially introduce you to my…”

He trails off for a split second, smiling warmly.

“…boyfriend.”

Mike feels all the color drain from his face.

“Guys, this is- uh, this is Michael.”

What?

“Hey, everyone!” Michael laughs confidently. “Most people call me Mike, but I know you already have a Mike in the group, so just call me whatever you want, I don’t mind.”

His gaze shifts instinctively straight to Mike, as if he knows that’s him.

Mike heard that wrong. He had to hear it wrong. There was no way that what he just heard was-

“Holy shit, no fucking way!” Dustin shouts with pure joy, his voice cracking mid sentence with excitement. “I’m so happy for you!”

He steps right past Mike without hesitation and wraps his arm around Will, patting him on the back. Mike stays rooted to the spot, not sure if he’s blinked even once in the last minute.

His gaze stays locked on Will, who hugs Dustin back- but his eyes flick to Mike’s. For a split second, Mike is almost certain he catches something strange in his expression, the faintest twitch of his eyelids before Will averts his gaze.

“Jesus… what are the odds we’d end up with another Mike?” Dustin snorts, stepping back.

“Honestly, these reactions are pretty calm,” Michael laughs, his hand seeming to find Will’s waist automatically. “Yesterday Max nearly choked on her water when I introduced myself.”

The conversations around Mike start to blue, like he’s underwater, every word reaching him muffled and distorted.

Did the world just play some kind of sick joke on him? Or is this just some stupid dream he’s about to wake up from?

“Mike?” someone’s voice echoes in his ears, but it's almost like it's coming from behind a wall. “Mike.”

He snaps out of it only when he feels Lucas’s hand grip his shoulder, pulling him out of whatever trance he’d fallen into. Mike shakes his head, blinking a few times and looks at his friend, who’s watching him with clear concern.

“You okay?”

Is Mike okay? Could he possibly be okay?

“Yeah- yeah,” Mike mutters. His gaze drifts back to Will, who’s watching him uncertainly now, shifting uncomfortably at his boyfriend’s side. “I’m fine, I just… just spaced out for a second.”

Lucas nods uncertainly and gives Mike’s arm one last squeeze. Before either of them can say anything else, everyone's attention snaps to Jonathan shouting nearby.

“Mom and Jim will be here in a few minutes- we should all take our seats!” he announces, jerking his head toward the as the rest of the guests slowly start moving that way.

“Shall we?” Michael asks Will in that calm, totally infuriating tone and Mike immediately feels the urge to rip out his vocal cords. God, what an annoying voice.

Will nods slowly, lingering for a moment longer as his eyes stay on Mike, his gaze unreadable. Eventually, he exhales, like he's giving up and turns toward the chapel.

“Come on,” Lucas mutters to Mike, giving him a pat on the back to finally get him moving.

Once they’re all seated in the chairs, Mike barely manages to keep his leg from bouncing up and down nonstop. Of course, of course Michael ends up sitting right next to him, spending the first few minutes trying to start some kind of conversation. Mike only responds with low hums, hoping that he finally gets the hint.

When Hoppers appears behind all of them to walk toward the altar, everyone turns around to follow his movements. His nerves are visible from a distance. Will immediately apologizes, saying he has to step out for a moment because he promised to walk his mom down the aisle.

The ceremony itself feels like something straight out of a fairy tale. Hopper gives a special speech before exchanging vows and most of the guests get teary eyed- especially Will, who keeps sniffing every few seconds.

Mike’s hand twitches. He leans forward slightly, glancing toward Will as his fingers search his pocket for a tissue.

“Will-“

“Don’t worry man, I’ve got him,” Michael whispers, waving a dismissive hand at him.

He pulls a tissue from his own pocket first and hands it to Will with a gentle smile.

Okay, what the fuck. Is he doing this on purpose or what?

Mike feels like he can finally breathe only once the ceremony comes to an end. After offering their most heartfelt congratulations to Hopper and Joyce, everyone slowly starts drifting toward their cars to head to the wedding venue.

“I was holding it together until I looked at Will,” Max mutters, shaking her head as she slips her hand into Lucas’s, lacing their fingers together. “You just can’t look at him and not cry.”

“I’m sorry- it’s just… after everything they’ve been through, seeing them finally happy-“ Will cuts himself off, his face twisting as fresh tears well up in his eyes. “Shit, I’m sorry!”

He laughs, lifting a hand to roughly wipe the tears from his cheeks and Mike feels his expression soften without his permission. Like always when he looks at Will.

Then, of course, Michael ruins the moment for him. At this point Mike knows he just has to get used to his annoying presence, but whenever he speaks it’s like Mike cannot control himself.

Michael protectively wraps an arm around Will’s shoulders, pulling him in and pressing a quick kiss on the top of his head.

“Don’t apologize, I totally understand,” Michael says.

“You don’t,” Mike mutters irritably- only realizing a second too late that he’s said it out loud.

“Excuse me?” Michael replies, his brows furrowing in confusion.

“You dont understand,” Mike shrugs. “You don’t know what they’ve been through, so don’t pretend that- whatever. Can we just go already?”

He exhales impatiently, his foot starting to tap against the ground, once every second like he’s trying to calm himself down. Everyone goes quiet, including Michael, staring at Mike like he’s just grown a second head.

“What? They’re not going to wait for us,” Mike mutters under his breath, spreading his hands to show that more and more people pull out of the parking lot.

“Mike?” Will’s voice cuts through everything.

“What?”

“I think we should talk, come on- I’ll drive you to the venue.”

“There’s really no need, Lucas and Max-“

“Mike,” Will says it more firmly this time and Mike swallows hard.

“Uh… Michael, do you maybe want to ride with us?” Lucas offers, stepping closer and giving him a couple of friendly pats on the back. “We’ve got room.”

“Sure,” Michael shrugs, like the tension between him and Mike doesn’t exist at all. “Don’t miss me too much.”

He flashes Will a teasing smile, pressing one last, lingering kiss to the top of his head before stepping away- his hand staying on Will’s back just a second longer than necessary.

Mike genuinely feels like he might throw up.

Lucas glances back over his shoulder, shooting Will a look that clearly says good luck before heading off with Michael, Max and Dustin toward their cars.

The parking lot feels too quiet once they’re alone.

Will doesn’t say anything as he unlocks the car, just gestures to Mike to get in. Mike does, shutting the door a little harder than necessary. The engine roars to life and gravel crunches under the tires as they pull out.

Mike stares out of the window, jaw clenched so hard it almost hurts.

“So,” Will finally says, soft but careful. “What’s gotten into you?”

“Nothing,” Mike shakes his head, eyes still fixed on the passing trees.

“Mike.”

That tone. The one that always gets under his skin and tells him something like don’t lie to me.

“Is this about Michael?” Will asks. “Or did I do something wrong?”

“Do you really have to ask that?”

Will exhales slowly, like he’s trying to keep composure. “Mike, I didn’t mean for you to find out like that.”

“That you have a boyfriend?” Mike scoffs, then stops himself and drags his hand down his face. “No- okay, yeah, it’s fine, it’s fine.”

Mike shrugs, opening his mouth like he’s about to say something, then closes it again as if deciding it’s better left unsaid.

“I wanted to- I was going to introduce you to Michael yesterday, when we were supposed to meet,” Will explains, shifting uncomfortably in his seat, eyes fixed on the road even though he desperately wants to look at Mike. “It’s not my fault your flight got cancelled…”

“So your plan was to tell me you have a boyfriend when you introduced him to me?” Mike adjusts in his seat, sitting up straighter this time with gaze sharp as it lands on Will’s side profile. “That was the plan? Just great, fantastic even!”

“What are you talking about?” Will frowns, stopping at red light and finally getting to look at him. “I wrote to you in my last letter that I started seeing someone. Yesterday I just wanted you to meet him properly, because I was scared you’d think it was… weird. That you would- you know.”

“Seeing someone?” Mike’s voice drops. “I thought you meant you made new friends.”

Will exhales slowly, the corner of his mouth twitching just slightly. “Mike just- try to be nice, okay? Your approval means more to me than you think. Michael is really… a good person.”

Mike snorts, crossing his arms neatly over his chest, not caring if the shirt’s gonna get wrinkled. He stares straight ahead, like he just wants the light to turn green so they can just get there already.

“Miiiiiike,” Will drags out teasingly, nudging him with his elbow, his smile widening. “Come on- we haven’t seen each other since Christmas. Today’s supposed to be fun.”

Mike clenches his jaw, but no matter how hard he tries, he can’t stop the smile that sneaks onto his face as Will keeps nudging him.

“I think I can try,” Mike sighs at last, rolling his eyes and shooting Will a sideways look. “Try to be… less of a jerk.”

“I’ll take it.” Will giggles, one of his hands slips off the steering wheel, reaching toward Mike. “Come here.”

Mike’s heart skips a beat. For a moment, all he does is look at Will’s face and then he gives in not being able to say ‘no’, something he’s always had a problem with when it comes to Will. He leans forward, tucking his face into the space beneath Will’s jaw, his arm setting loosely around his waist.

For a few seconds, the world around them goes still, like nothing else matters.

Mike presses his cheek into Will’s warm skin, eyes slipping shut as a quiet, overwhelming happiness spread through him. He’s almost certain his cheeks are burning red.

The moment shatters only when a car behind them honks loudly.

They pull apart instantly. Will glances at the traffic light and hits the gas, snorting under his breath as they move forward.

“People in this state are unbelievable,” he mutters, rolling his eyes before focusing back on the road. “By the way… you smell nice.”

Oh.

Mike can’t stop the smile that slips onto his face as he shifts in his seat, feeling, just for a moment, like everything is the way it used to be.

The drive to the wedding venue takes only a few minutes, but the chaos waiting for them there is unreal. Everyone is scrambling to find their seats, since the tables and chairs are assigned and it takes a good while before everyone finally settles down.

Luckily, Mike ends up sitting right next to Will, not Michael this time, so he exhales in a quiet relief. Maybe if he squints a little whenever Michael is nearby and completely tunes him out the second he opens his mouth, this evening won’t be a total disaster.

“I just want to sincerely thank you all for coming,” Joyce begins into the microphone, her gaze sweeping across the room. “Jim and I are incredibly grateful to have you here.”

Then she grins.

“Eat, drink as much as you want- and let’s show this town that the old Hawkins crew knows how to party!”

She practically shouts it and most of the guests whistle and cheer, Max literally just stares at Will with her jaw nearly on the floor. It’s been a long time since any of them have seen Joyce this relaxed and this ready to have fun.

Music immediately floods the hall, blending with the noise of conversations and the clatter of plates and cutlery.

“I’m cutting you kids some slack today,” Hopper suddenly says, stopping by the so called kids’ table and resting his hands on Will’s shoulders, giving them a gentle squeeze. “But don’t go overboard with the alcohol. Remember that my coworkers are here too.”

“Those guys?” Dustin asks, pointing toward a table full of men already holding drinks.

Mike snorts, along with the rest of them and Hopper laughs, placing a hand on the back of Dustin’s head and nudging it forward with surprising gentleness.

“Hey, don’t get ahead of yourself,” he mutters fondly before heading back to Joyce.

“So,” Lucas says brightly, already standing and grabbing a bottle of vodka, “Now that we officially have the green light, I think we should make a toast to finally being together again.”

Everyone hands over their shot glasses, which are quickly filled with clear alcohol. Will immediately pours his into a regular glass instead and asks Michael to pass him the bottle of Coke.

“You making a drink?” Mike asks, frowning slightly as he sets his own full shot glass on the table.

“Ah- yeah, I kind of overdid it a while ago, so I’m taking it slow,” Will laughs, filling the glass halfway with Coke. “I’m a lightweight.”

The corners of Mike’s mouth lift faintly as he imagines what Will must be like drunk. They’ve never actually drunk together- for some unknown reason Will always turns alcohol down when Mike’s around. So today is a nice exception.

“You have no idea how much of a lightweight,” Michael chimes in just as everyone raises their glasses. “Last time, he got so clingy he literally couldn’t peel himself off me.”

He laughs and it’s clear from his tone that he genuinely means it only as a silly fun fact.

It’s not entirely Michael’s fault that Mike sees red every time he talks, especially when he talks about Will.

Keep talking and you’ll have to peel my fist from your face , Mike thinks, tilting the shot glass back and swallowing the alcohol in one go.

“Mike!” Lucas groans. “I haven’t even made the toast yet!”

Mike really thought this night wouldn’t be that bad- but with every passing minute, his patience wears thinner and thinner. This isn’t how he imagined the evening going, especially after overhearing Max and Lucas earlier. Now, just thinking about it makes him scoff at himself for being so damn naive.

Mike knows he’s being dramatic. It’s not like Will is constantly all over Michael or anything, but still… he misses it. Misses when Will’s attention was only on him.

Dustin launches into a story about something that happened at college recently and everyone keeps chiming in with their own commentary. Their table is filled with laughter and with every shot, Mike feels himself loosening up a little more.

That’s exactly what he was hoping for.

At some point, Mike slides into the temporarily empty seat next to Max, talking with her about a new game that’s supposed to come out later this year. Unfortunately, that puts him directly across from Will and his boyfriend, but for his own sanity, Mike tries not to look in their direction.

“God, Will,” Michael suddenly groans excitedly, pushing back his chair. “You have to dance to this with me.”

The opening notes of ‘Me and Michael’ spill from the speakers and something in Mike’s chest tightens painfully. His gaze shifts from Max to Will, just as Will tries to pull his hand free from Michael’s grip.

“You know I don’t dance…” Will laughs, though there’s something forced about it.

Liar.

Will has always danced like crazy during his sleepovers with Mike.

“You have to make an exception for this song!” Michael insists, tugging him closer and Will hesitates, finally giving in to his boyfriend’s pleas.

Before he’s dragged onto the dance floor, Mike catches Will glancing at him, his expression unreadable but almost like he’s trying to say something with just a look. Mike can’t tell what it is. An apology? Sadness? Guilt?

In every scene, it’s me and Michael.

Michael tightens his grip on Will’s hands, smiling broadly as he spins him around.

Too happy with ourselves to notice when the change had come.

Michael leans down, whispering something in Will’s ear. Will giggles but only for a second, because as soon as his eyes drift back to Mike his smile slips from his face.

Me and Michael, it’s not a question now. m

“Wheeler.” Max snaps her fingers in front of Mike’s face. “Are you even listening to me?”

“Yeah, I- I…” Mike nods quickly, pushing back his chair, which scrapes loudly against the floor. “I’m gonna get some air, I think I ate too much.”

He doesn’t wait for any response. He heads straight for the exit, ignoring Lucas’s and Dustin’s looks and especially Will’s, who watches him all the way to the doors.

It’s only when the fresh, salty sea air hits him that Mike manages to calm down, even if it’s just a little. He has this distinct feeling that if he’d stayed in that room for even one second longer, he would’ve broken something.

He doesn’t fully understand why he feels like this. Where is this sick jealousy even coming from? But the sight of Will, his Will with someone else makes it impossible for him to think straight.

Mike lets out a shaky breath and braces his hands against the wooden railing outside. He leans forward, resting his forehead against his knuckles, forcing himself to take a few deep breaths. He’s so focused on steadying himself that he doesn’t even hear the approaching footsteps behind him.

“Hey, Mike… you okay?” Max asks cautiously as she comes closer.

“I told you I needed some air,” he replies flatly, not moving even by a centimeter.

The music from inside thumps through the walls, the bass still loud even out here. But at least that cursed song has finally ended.

“Do you want me to grab you some water, or-”

“Max, I’m fine,” Mike groans, straightening and looking at her with something dangerously close to a plea. “Thanks for checking on me. I just… need to be alone for a bit, please?”

She doesn’t look convinced, but when Mike rests a hand on her shoulder and gives it a gentle squeeze, she exhales.

“I’ll be right back,” he adds, trying to lighten the mood. “Save me a few fries before Dustin inhales all of them.”

That does it. After a few quiet seconds, Max nods, stepping back and disappearing through the main doors.

Mike exhales loudly and turns his back to the building again, staring at the bushes swaying gently in the wind. The sun has nearly set now- only a thin smear of red and orange still clinging to the sky.

Barely a minute passes before he hears the door click shut again and footsteps coming closer.

“Max, how many times do I have to tell you I want to be alone-”

“Woah- not Max,” a familiar voice says carefully. “But if you want me gone, just say the word.”

Mike freezes instantly.

Will.

His body tenses slightly and he glances over his shoulder to take a look at Will. He looks so painfully beautiful in the sunset that something in Mike’s chest tightens uncomfortably.

“Oh- no, I mean… you can stay, I don’t mind,” Mike says quietly, shrugging his shoulders. “Max just won’t leave me alone.”

Will nods slowly as his footsteps grow louder, until he finally stands next to him, leaning back against the railing with his gaze fixed directly on Mike.

“Did you drink too much?” the quiet question slips from Will’s lips. “Why are you here all alone?”

“Nah, it’s hot inside, so I just- you know, wanted some fresh air,” Mike mutters, glancing at Will out of the corner of his eye. “You?”

“Trust me, if I’d had too much to drink, you’d notice,” Will snorts, tilting his head to the side.

“No… I meant, why are you here?”

“I saw you leave and got scared you weren’t feeling well,” Will says, closely studying Mike, who still can’t quite bring himself to meet Will’s gaze.

Silence settles between them, broken only by the distant muffled music and the wind whooshing every now and then.

“Mike?” Will asks quietly.

Mike feels it before he sees it, warmth blooms by his side as Will steps more into his space, not touching him yet, just close enough that Mike can feel the familiar proximity.

Will leans in slightly, resting his forearms on the railing beside Mike’s hands.

For a moment their shoulders brush and Mike swallows harshly.

“Please, don’t,” he says quietly, not even sure what he’s asking him not to do.

Will’s eyes soften in that way that always ruins Mike, like he sees right through him and that’s the scariest feeling he’s ever experienced.

Then Will reaches out, he uses two fingers to hook gently into the fabric of Mike’s sleeve, right near his wrist. Not really pulling on it, just letting his touch linger there.

“You know you can talk to me,” Will says, barely louder than the quiet wind.

Mike’s breath stutters and his body flinches under the gentle touch, goosebumps running across his skin. He clears his throat, trying to steady it and straightens, careful not to move his hand to keep Will’s touch right where it is.

“I… I don’t know. I don’t know, Will… I-” Mike mutters under his breath, unable to form his thoughts into a coherent sentence. His face twists in a grimace as he closes his eyes for a second. “It’s… it’s stupid.”

“Mike, I’ve known you since kindergarten,” Will says calmly. “Have I ever thought anything you said was stupid?”

“Are you shitting me right now?” Mike laughs, finally lifting his gaze to look straight at Will, amusement sparkling in his eyes.

“I meant serious conversations!” Will laughs too.

His hand pulls away from Mike’s wrist and Mike nearly lets out a whine at the sudden loss of contact. Will raises his hand and gives him a playful tap on the shoulder.

“I mean… I once told you I thought there were aliens in my backyard and you said I was making it up and that mom should keep an eye on me,” Mike mutters with a hint of mock, though laughter almost slips from his throat.

“Mike! That wasn’t a serious conversation!”

“For me it was!” Mike laughs, tossing his head back.

“Well, looking at what went down in Hawkins later…” Will snorts, shaking his head and crossing his arms. “Maybe your story wasn’t so unrealistic after all.”

“See! Finally, Jesus- thank you!” Mike exhales with relief and claps his hands in amusement once.

His gaze lingers on Will, who is smiling so widely that Mike has to look away for a moment- anywhere, anywhere but at that glowing face. Warmth spreads through him and he nibbles on his lower lip slightly.

“Will, I-” Mike stops and shakes his head, his brows twitching nervously a few times. “I… I want to-”

The sound of the entrance doors opening abruptly interrupts him mid sentence. The music inside spikes loudly before fading again as the doors close.

“Oh, there you are,” Michael breathes with relief, stepping closer to Mike and Will. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”

Mike’s eyes widen almost comically, like he’s just been caught doing something he absolutely shouldn’t be doing.

The moment of surprise passes in a heartbeat. His gaze hardens, filling with pure, unchecked anger and his hands curl into fists almost on instinct as Michael wraps an arm around Will without hesitation- looking at him like he’s his entire world.

Mike looks at Will like that too. Always has. It just hasn’t fully hit him until now.

“Uh… I hope I didn’t interrupt anything important,” Michael whispers, only now lifting his eyes to Mike, practically the first time he’s really looked at him since finding them together.

“No, I was heading back inside anyway,” Mike says. “You look good in this light by the way, really good.”

He says it gently, almost warmly, but his eyes never leave Will even for a second. Just because the words are meant only for him, not for them as a couple.

“Oh wow, man, thanks!” Michael exhales, clearly relieved and pleased.

“Mike…” Will starts softly. His fingers twitch, like he wants to reach out and touch him, just to keep him there for just one second longer.

Mike only tightens his grip on the railing. He forces a weak smile, turns on his heel and a moment later disappears back into the building, where a wave of hot stifling air hits him all at once.

“Aww, I told you he’d eventually like me!” Michael coos happily, pulling Will closer against his chest. “And you were stressing over it for a whole month, silly.”

“Let’s just… go back inside,” Will sighs, lacing his fingers around his boyfriend’s wrist and tugging him toward the doors.

Mike, meanwhile, barely makes it past the threshold before heading straight for the table. He grabs the nearly empty bottle of vodka. If he’s going to survive tonight, if he’s even going to pretend to have fun, he needs alcohol. A lot of it.

His gaze drifts slowly across the table, lingering on every shot glass with a quiet hope that one of them is still full. When he spots Dustin’s glass with alcohol still in it, he doesn’t hesitate, he just grabs it and downs it in one gulp.

“Dude, I was about to drink that!” Dustin groans, yanking the empty glass from his hand and flipping it upside down like he can’t believe what just happened.

“Oops, too slow,” Mike snorts, grimacing at the burn of alcohol on his tongue.

He frowns when Dustin suddenly stands up and walks past him without a word.

“Hey, what are you doing?” Mike asks, but the answer comes faster than he can process it.

Dustin reaches for Mike’s plate and shamelessly grabs the last fries, the ones Max specifically saved for him so Dustin wouldn’t eat them. He pops them into his mouth and starts chewing with obvious satisfaction.

“Dude!” Mike groans hoarsely, throwing his arms out in complete disbelief.

He doesn’t even notice that Will has already come back inside, leaning against the doorframe and watching the whole scene with a warm but sad smile on his face.

The next two hours pass in growing chaos, but Mike knows it’s the alcohol, which has already settled into their veins. Another empty bottle of vodka gets taken away by the catering staff, but no one is rushing to open the next one. Luckily, they already know their limits, college has trained them in that better than anything else.

Mike is probably drinking the most of the whole party, sometimes not even waiting for the others. And strangely, it truly helps him as his shoulders loosen, his body relaxes more than before. If he catches Will’s worried glance after every shot, he tries to ignore it and just have fun. After all, that’s why they’re here.

The music gets louder and the guests loosen up even more. Most head to the dance floor, dancing and shouting with excitement. Even Mike’s dad drags his mom into a spin and Max snorts with laughter, hoping that the cameraman is going to get some good footage.

“So, maybe you’ll do me the honor of dancing with me?” Lucas suddenly asks, clearly tipsy, grinning widely as Max happily grabs his hand and lets him pull her in.

“Only if you promise not to be as stiff as Mr. Wheeler,” she laughs, disappearing into the crowd with Lucas.

Mike hates dancing. Maybe “hates” is too strong, but he’s never really felt comfortable in situations like this, especially with an audience. That’s why he usually avoids the dance floor altogether.

But when a slow, romantic song gets replaced by a dance tune, Dustin claps his hands and announces that everyone should get up and move.

“I don’t-” Mike starts, but Will interrupts immediately.

“Oh Mike, I really don’t want to hear this now,” he grabs both of Mike’s hands and mercilessly leads him to the dance floor.

Mike sighs and finally gives in without putting up much of a fight. The alcohol in his system makes it slightly easier, but the anxiety still sits deep in his stomach as he tries to catch the rhythm. His eyes keep searching for Will and almost always he sees Will staring back just as intensely. Doesn’t matter if he’s moving alone or when Michael pulls Will close.

“I love you guys!” Dustin shouts suddenly with a voice full of emotion, throwing himself into a group hug.

Mike laughs under his breath, automatically looping an arm around Lucas and Max, who happen to be closest. His mood brightens even more when he notices Michael isn’t joining in.

Ha, fuck you, Michael.

Will, as usual, almost chokes up, though not only because of the alcohol. He stands across from Mike, pressing his cheek to Mike’s neck. Mike feels the warmth he’s always cherished and swears he feels a single tear slip down his skin. He surely had imagined this, right?

Suddenly Dustin starts bouncing, still in the hug. The rest quickly follow, and the whole group spins in a circle, laughing and jumping to the music. They separate only when the song fully finishes.

Michael, standing near Will, suddenly groans.

“Be right back baby,” he mutters, leaning down and pressing a quick, soft kiss to Will’s lips. “I need to use the bathroom.”

Will watches him go, heart fluttering and he suddenly feels… restless. He’s had a few drinks and the alcohol’s loosened his usual demeanor.

DJ cranks up the next cheesy hit just as the MC announces a classic wedding game. Holding the balloon between a couple’s foreheads, no hands allowed of course! The room erupts in cheers and laughter, glasses clinking, some people wobbling already from a few too many drinks.

“Mike,” he slurs a little, tugging on his best friend’s sleeve. “C’mon, you gotta play this with me- it’s… it’s way too funny to miss.”

Mike blinks, looking down at him, but the sparkle in Will’s eyes he’s missed so much is hard to resist. He sighs, rubbing the back of his neck.

“You’re drunk,” Mike says, though his grin betrays his amusement.

“Exactly,” Will laughs, hiccuping slightly. “So come on, let’s go before Michael comes back, we- we can’t sit this one out!”

Mike shakes his head but lets Will drag him toward the center of the dance floor again. Other couples are already in position, giggling and wobbling as they balance the balloon. Will and Mike squeeze together, forehead to forehead, careful to keep the balloon from falling.

At first, it’s all clumsy and loud their arms brushing against each other, feet tangling together as they almost stumble across the floor. The balloon slips twice in a span of few seconds, causing a chorus of squeals and laughter from both of them. Will giggles and Mike feels his face heat up when he can feel the warmth of Will’s breath hitting his cheeks.

Each time they bump into another couple or have to lean to avoid someone else, their bodies brush more than necessary. Will’s breath tickles Mike’s ear as he leans in to whisper instructions, both of them stifling laughter.

“Mike, no- we’re gonna-“ Will giggles for the seventh time, not that Mike is counting. “Shit, shit!”

From across the floor, Michael returns, drying his hands, just in time to see Will and Mike wobble dangerously as they try to get to the other side of the room. His smile falters slightly.

“Jesus Christ, Will!” Mike groans loudly, snorting with laughter as suddenly one of them steps on the other’s foot, sending them both crashing to the floor.

Mike isn’t even sure if it’s his fault or Will’s, but he knows one thing… Will is right under him, his cheeks flushed pink. His eyes are squeezed shut as a loud laugh rings in Mike’s ears like the most beautiful song. The balloon lying next to them is completely forgotten.

Mike doesn’t want to move, his hands are on either side of Will’s head and they’re exactly where they should be. Will is exactly where he should be.

Blood pounds in his ears, his heart racing so fast that it feels like he’s in another reality. Maybe if he could just lean in a little, press their lips together… maybe everything would-

“God, how much have you guys been drinking?” Jonathan mutters, approaching them with a mix of amusement and mild concern. “Come on, let’s get you some fresh air.”

“Will, are you okay?” Michael is also already at their side and only then does Mike pull away from Will, getting to his feet.

“Of course,” Will’s laughter finally starts to fade away and when Michael reaches out a hand to help him up, he hesitantly takes it after a second.

Will’s gaze lingers on Mike for a moment longer, until finally the whole group heads out onto the patio.

It’s dark already and the air outside is much more pleasant than inside. Everyone breathes a sigh of relief, especially after the chaotic dance session, as they settle onto the benches, while Mike sits on the low wall with Dustin. Max snuggles into Lucas’s chest, comfortably situated on his lap.

“I swear, we didn’t drink that much-” Lucas raises his hands defensively.

“I can see, and hear that,” Jonathan snorts, his gaze scanning each of them before finally landing on Michael. “Michael, I truly hope you’re having fun.”

“Ah… of course, everyone’s been so welcoming, it’s no wonder Will talks about you all so much,” Michael says with a genuine smile.

Oh, Mike's been so welcoming.

“How did you two even meet?” Max finally asks and Mike shoots her a deadly glare for even thinking about bringing it up.

“Do you want to tell her babe, or should I?” Michael asks Will, running his thumb along Will’s knuckles.

“Uh-” Will clears his throat, glancing at Mike for a split second. “Well… M-Michael takes classes at the local cinema, the one Jonathan runs workshops at and I guess, they got pretty close. So uh- one day when I dropped by Jonathan’s place, Michael was there and…”

“Sorry to interrupt baby, but I just have to mention that the moment Will walked in, I knew I was done for.” Michael sighs happily. “We started talking like we’d known each other for years, about everything, but especially horror movies, like-“

“Will’s always watched scary movies at my place, you could say I got him into it,” Mike says, though his voice fails in an attempt to sound casual, slurring slightly from the alcohol.

“That’s great, man,” Michael smiles.

Why is he still smiling like that pretending to be so genuine? Mike wants to get up and leave, or punch him in the face.

“Anyway, later we found out we both like video games too. Our tastes are a little different, but that just meant we spent more time together, because Will taught me-”

“Oh god, I just remembered how we- how Will and I learned to play D&D together, staying up all night under my blanket, hiding from my mom so she wouldn’t yell at us for not sleeping!” Mike laughs, slapping his thigh like it’s the funniest thing ever.

Mike feels everyone’s eyes on him as an awkward silence falls between all of them. The tension is so thick it could be cut with a knife.

“Mike,” Max murmurs warningly, noticing out of the corner of her eye that Will can’t stop his hands from shaking, even though he is desperately trying to hide it.

“I’m glad Will has such a good friend to share so many wonderful memories with,” Michael adds, though his voice carries a hint of tension.

Shut the fuck up.

“I’m his best friend, not just a friend and-“

“Mike, I think your mom’s been calling you for a while now, maybe I should help you get inside safely?” Jonathan suddenly interrupts, stepping closer and gripping Mike’s shoulder, slightly harder than he probably should.

“Oh, really? I didn’t hear anything,” Mike asks, genuinely confused, lifting his gaze to Jonathan.

“Yeah, come on,” Jonathan practically growls, grabbing him by the arm and forcing him to stand.

He doesn’t give him a second to react. Jonathan just drags him away, deliberately steering them farther from the party until they’re far enough that no one can overhear their conversation.

“Dude, what the hell is your problem?!” Mike groans. The irritation builds up with every second, especially as Jonathan’s grip slowly starts to hurt him.

Jonathan’s lips press into a thin line. As soon as they turn the corner, he shoves Mike back against the wall- careful enough, like he’s afraid of actually hurting him. Mike is drunk and Jonathan can feel it in every unsteady movement coming from him.

“What’s my problem?” he snaps hoarsely. “I’m asking what the fuck is wrong with you. ”

“Nothing,” Mike scoffs, rolling his eyes. “I’m having fun. I’m at a wedding, in case you missed that.”

His fingers curl into fists. He knows exactly what Jonathan is talking about and he doesn’t regret any of the things he’s said. Not a single word. All he wants right now is to go back and throw a few more pointed comments Michael’s way and make sure that they land perfectly.

He pushes himself off the wall, nervously straightening his tie and already moving toward the patio. “‘M gonna get back to my frien-”

He doesn’t get to finish.

Jonathan grabs him again, but this time by the shirt. The fabric wrinkles in his fists as he shakes Mike’s body to put some sense into him and yanks him closer. Their faces are practically centimeters apart now.

“Get the hell off me, dude!” Mike snarls, placing his hands on Jonathan’s chest and shoving him back as hard as he can muster in his drunken state.

“You think I’m blind?” Jonathan points at him. “I see what you’ve been doing from the start. Maybe the others fall for your smile, but I can see everything- and Will sees it too, especially him. Do you have any idea what this is doing to him?”

Something painfully tightens in Mike’s chest. He straightens, swallows hard and lets out a short, humorless laugh. The last thing he wants right now is to hear how his behavior is hurting Will, because this is not his intention. Not at all.

“Don’t drag Will into this. Don’t even talk to me about Will.”

“All of this is about Will!” Jonathan steps closer. “I don’t know what you’re trying to prove, but you’re pushing him away. And do you know what I think?” He hesitates for barely a second. “I think it pisses you off that Michael is a guy.”

Mike’s eyes widen instantly.

It’s like Jonathan punches him straight in the face- or even worse, it’s like he reaches into his chest and squeezes his heart without mercy.

“That’s bullshit!” Mike explodes. “Are you trying to say- are you saying that I’m homophobic? What the hell are you-”

“Then explain it.”

“I just can’t stand that guy!”

“Mike, you don’t even know him!”

“And I don’t want to!” he shouts, at this point not even caring if anyone hears. “And I don’t want Will to know him. I don’t want him here. I don’t want him anywhere.”

Jonathan exhales heavily, visibly exhausted.

“You really don’t get it, do you?” he says quietly. “Will is finally happy. He found someone who understands him, someone who’s there for him and you’re trying to destroy that.”

His gaze hardens. “Honestly Mike, are you proud of yourself?”

Mike’s hands start to tremble, his leg bouncing up and down against the ground in a nervous tic. Will found someone who understands him.

As if Mike hasn’t known him since kindergarten. As if he isn’t the one who understands Will best. Not some random guy who doesn’t even know half of what Will has been through.

“He understands him?” Mike lets out a short laugh, completely humorless as alcohol makes him slur his words out. “He’ll never understand Will the way I do. The way we do.”

“So what exactly do you expect?” Jonathan snaps. “That Will’s gonna stay alone for the rest of his life because no one but us understands what happened years ago? Mike, he wants to forget about it, finally live a life like a normal person.”

“I don’t fucking care,” Mike scoffs. “I don’t give a shit, actually. He doesn’t understand Will, I- he doesn’t know him as well as he thinks and- and he doesn’t even- he doesn’t even deserve Will. Jesus, he doesn’t deserve him at all. He doesn’t deserve him like-”

He stops.

His brows knit for a split second, pupils widening as the weight of what he was about to say crashes into him.

“Like you?” Jonathan asks quietly, his voice much softer now and his expression gentles even more when Mike looks at him.

It feels like the ground disappears from under Mike’s feet.

For the first time, someone says it out loud. The thing he’s been running from for years. He wants to laugh it off, maybe blame the alcohol and say that Jonathan’s just full of shit.

But he can’t.

He just stands there, staring at him with wide eyes that subconsciously gloss over with tears.

“You don’t fucking understand,” he snarls at last.

He doesn’t wait for an answer. He brushes past Jonathan, making sure their shoulders bump slightly and heads straight for the patio, desperate to get back inside and forget about this whole conversation, once and for all.

This time, Jonathan doesn’t stop him. He just watches Mike walk away and actually understands more than Mike is ready to admit.

“Mike?” Will jumps up from the bench when he sees Mike staggering toward the building.

But Mike doesn’t slow down nor even look their way and gosh, especially not at Will.

Inside, the music is pounding, but it’s almost like he doesn’t even hear it anymore, silencing all the noise which is a pretty dumb idea (heard that, duffers?). All he can think about is another drink so when he reaches the table, Mike immediately pours himself a shot and downs it in one go.

Will found someone who understands him. Great fucking joke.

He snorts, setting the empty glass down with a dull clink. Then another.

He doesn’t care if anyone’s staring. If maybe guests are wondering why he’s sitting all alone, visibly drunk out of his mind but still emptying his third shot in a row. He’s locked inside his own head, cut off from the rest of the world.

Will is happy. Not as happy as he would be with him.

Mike’s leg bounces uncontrollably. His fingers worry the thin fabric of a napkin until he finally crushes it in his fist and pushes himself up abruptly.

His stomach clenches painfully. He knows he needs to get to the bathroom as soon as possible, Mike cusses under his breath and walks down the hallway when suddenly someone grabs his wrist.

“Hey, Mike…” Holly stops him hesitantly, her eyes full of concern.

“Not now,” he mutters, pressing his lips together as a wave of nausea hits him twice as hard.

“Mike, but-”

He doesn’t let her finish as he yanks his hand free and practically runs for the bathroom, disappearing behind the door.

Mike barely makes it to the stall before his stomach twists violently.

He drops to his knees, one hand gripping the porcelain as he retches, everything burning harshly on the way up. His throat aches, eyes watering as bile and alcohol hit the bowl, when another round of tremors hits his body.

He coughs and spits violently, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand like that’ll fix anything.

“Fuck,” he mutters hoarsely.

His head is spinning and something in his chest feels too tight, like something inside him is trying to claw its way out.

He slams his fist into the metal wall of the stall, making the door creak open slightly and the bang echoes through the, thankfully empty, bathroom.

“Shit-” pain flares up his knuckles, sharp and grounding but maybe he can beat this sickening feeling out of himself. Like bruised skin will be easier to deal with than whatever the hell is happening in his heart.

Mike presses his forehead against the cold metal, breathing hard with jaw clenched so tight it hurts.

Will steps inside the building after telling the others he’ll just quickly go and check on Mike, just in case. The air feels heavier inside, so much stuffier than before but Will really hopes it’s from the alcohol, not the bad feeling he’s been having for the past few minutes. His eyes sweep the room on instinct, searching for any sign of Mike.

He barely takes three steps in before someone almost collides with him.

“Will!” Holly grabs his arm so suddenly that Will flinches at the contact, he looks down at her wide and glassy with worry eyes.

“Thank god,” she breathes. “Mike looks really unwell.”

The words hit him hard and his stomach drops.

“What?” he asks, the question leaves him immediately almost panicked. “Where is he?”

Holly doesn’t hesitate. She just lifts her hand and points down the hallway, toward the back of the building. “The bathroom.”

That’s all it takes, because Will is already moving before she finishes speaking.

The bathroom door behind Mike creaks, but he doesn’t really lift his head. He assumes it’s just a random guest or maybe even someone from the staff, someone who just wants to use another bathroom stall.

“Mike?”

Will’s voice echoes in the room and Mike goes rigid.

“Okay… okay, hey-” Will moves closer quickly, the bathroom door clicking shut softly behind him. “Jesus, Mike…”

He crouches down beside him in a small space of the stall, not touching him right away like he’s afraid of doing the wrong thing. His hand hovers in the air, trembling.

Before Will can mutter anything else, Mike throws up again and his shoulders violently shake with the force of it. Will reacts without thinking, pulling Mike’s wavy hair out of his face, while his other hand braces against Mike’s back.

“Hey, hey… breathe,” Will says, too quiet for how scared he is. “It’s okay Mike, I’m here.”

Mike’s fingers dig into the edge of the toilet bowl. “Get out…” he rasps. “I just want to be alone, please.”

“Shut up,” Will says immediately, not angry, just firm and edged with something that hurts so much worse. “I’m not going anywhere.”

Mike lets out a weak sound that’s closer to a sob than a laugh. “Great… I didn’t ask for help.”

“Mike, I was worried,” Will says, finally fully placing a hand on his back, but still keeping it careful like Mike might shatter any second if he’s not careful enough. “You looked so upset and then-”

His voice breaks.

Mike finally lifts his head. His eyes are red and glassy, his face pale but once he sees the way Will’s eyes roam over his face his breath catches in his throat. “Don’t look at me like that,” he mutters weakly.

For a few seconds, that feels like they stretch into hours, Will just stares into Mike’s eyes. Begging. Searching for any answer to the question burning inside him, why is Mike acting like this. Some part of Will already knows, deep down, but he fights it with everything he has, like he doesn’t deserve to know the truth.

“Come on… get up, you’ve had enough for today,” Will sighs heavily, pulling his hands away from Mike and standing up with a quiet breath. “You’re staying at my mom’s tonight, I’m not letting you sleep alone in your hotel room.”

He reaches over and flushes the toilet, then raises one eyebrow as he helps Mike up from the filthy floor. It’s harder than it should be, Mike barely cooperates, trying to push Will’s hands away.

“Mike, come on- this isn’t funny anymore,” Will mutters, lifting one hand to anxiously pinch the spot between his eyebrows.

“I’m not going anywhere.”

“Michael.”

The moment the name leaves Will’s mouth, his eyes widen in realization of what he’s just done. Yes, it’s still Mike’s name and Will has always used it when Mike got on his nerves, but now… after today, it carries a different weight.

Mike freezes.

It’s like something in him gives up all at once as he straightens onto unsteady legs, his breath hitching.

“Don’t call me that,” he says quietly, his voice sounds so exhausted and Will almost misses the way it trembles at the end.

“Yeah- yeah, you’re right, I’m sorry,” Will nods quickly, instinctively grabbing Mike’s wrist when he nearly trips trying to step out of the stall. “Easy…”

Will drapes Mike’s arm over his shoulders and, with some effort, because well- Will isn’t exactly sober either, guides him to the sink.

“Rinse your mouth, okay? Can you stand here on your own for a minute?” Will asks, watching Mike cling to the edge of the sink and when Mike nods, Will hesitates before stepping back. “I’ll ask Jonathan to call a taxi. Just please- please don’t move from here.”

Mike mumbles something hard to understand under his breath and drops his head, eyes closing as if that might stop the merciless dizziness. He knows he should feel better after throwing up, at least physically.

All Mike hears next is the bathroom door closing. The silence that follows is broken only by the muffled music coming from the hall.

Slowly, Mike lifts his head and looks at his pale reflection in the mirror. He snorts under his breath.

Pathetic.

Maybe if he had come to terms with his feelings a long time ago, he wouldn’t look like death right now, looking at his unrecognizable reflection after throwing up everything in his stomach. Maybe then he’d have accepted the fact that Will has a boyfriend. Or maybe then… he would be that boyfriend.

The thought alone makes Mike want the floor to swallow him whole. For years, he’s fought these feelings, telling himself that what he feels is normal between best friends. That Mike is… normal. All for one stupid overheard conversation, which by the way, was one big misunderstanding, to ruin everything.

His thoughts are interrupted when Lucas and Dustin burst into the bathroom, eyes wide.

“Jesus, Will wasn’t kidding- you look awful,” Lucas mutters, stepping closer and letting Mike lean against his side.

“Wow, thanks,” Mike mumbles, half-joking as he forces out a weak laugh. “I see you’re learning a lot from your girlfriend, you guys always know exactly what to say.”

“Well… at least this time it wasn’t me who almost wiped out,” Dustin says, trying to lighten the mood as he takes Mike’s other side to support him. “But seriously… are you okay?”

“Fantastic,” Mike snorts, finally giving up and letting his friends help him out of the bathroom.

“Good God, Michael, are you out of your mind?” Mike’s mom rushes over as soon as they step out of the bathroom, though she herself looks like she’s had one too many sips of wine.

“Mom, I’m fine,” Mike lies, his cheeks heating with embarrassment, not to mention his heart skipping a beat at the stupid name.

She crosses her arms over her chest, opening her mouth to say more, but Will suddenly appears at their side, breathing hard like he’s just run a marathon.

“Mrs. Wheeler, I promise I’ll take care of Mike… he’ll stay at my place tonight- well, at my mom’s,” Will says, trying to ease Karen.

“Honey, I don’t want to cause any trouble, we have hotel rooms-”

“It’s not a problem, really,” Will interrupts with a nod. “It’ll be like… a sleepover, like old times.”

Mike feels his stomach tighten again at those words and for a moment he hopes it’s just the lingering nausea and not the butterflies now wrecking his gut.

“Okay, okay, fine… take care of each other. We’ll come for Mike later,” Karen says, pointing toward her son with her finger. “And you’re gonna have so much explaining to do tomorrow, young man.”

She gives him a final look of something like disappointment and lets out a loud sigh before leaving them alone.

Mike doesn’t move his eyes from Will. His lashes flutter, corners of his mouth twitching involuntarily as he takes in Will’s flushed cheeks.

“Come on… the taxi’s waiting,” Will says, nodding toward the exit as Dustin and Lucas step in to help Mike get outside.

The cool night air hits Mike’s overheated face. He exhales deeply, almost greedily, drawing in long and steady breaths.

“If anything happens, call the wedding hall to find us and we’ll come,” Dustin adds, leaning carefully so he doesn’t bump his head as he helps Mike get into the taxi.

“You sure you can handle him on your own?” Lucas asks, glancing at Will, who simply nods.

“Thank you for your help. See you tomorrow? Come by for lunch… we’ll have tons of leftovers and way too little people to eat all of it.” Will offers them a gentle smile as he climbs into the car, hope flickering in his eyes.

“We will.” Lucas nods back, smiling.

“Mmmmm… where are we going?” Mike asks, sprawling across the backseat, which makes Will roll his eyes.

Will shoots the guys an apologetic look before closing the taxi door and giving the driver the address. The man immediately punches a little button on the monitor to start the fare and pulls away from the building, merging onto the empty street.

“Where are you taking me?” Mike giggles, tilting his head back against the seat.

“Jesus, Mike… I feel like you’re getting even more drunk by the minute,” Will sighs, finally meeting his gaze and feeling a pang in his chest as their eyes lock. “Please don’t throw up in the car…”

“I won’t,” Mike hiccups, mumbling something incoherent under his breath.

The silence lasts only a moment before Mike, restless, starts squirming in his seat like he can’t stay still for more than a second.

After a loud sigh and a nearly choking inhale, Mike looks at Will in shock.

“ Where’s your boyfriend?” Mike asks, though this time his voice lacks the harshness it carried earlier whenever Michael’s name came up.

“He stayed with the others, he will come by in an hour with Jonathan, so we can talk at home alone… just us,” Will explains, though a quiet sigh escapes him again. “But I don’t know if we’ll be able to have a proper conversation with you in this state.”

“We will! I- I can,” Mike insists. “Talking is fun.”

Will smiles faintly. When Mike, almost limply, leans sideways against him, pressing his cheek to Will’s shoulder, it feels completely natural, like this closeness has always been meant to be. And Gosh, Will misses it so much.

Will exhales slowly and rests his hand on Mike’s thigh, patting it lightly a few times before finally stopping, letting it just stay there.

Mike isn’t even sure when he closes his eyes and drifts into a short nap, but Will’s warmth is so comforting that once the silence falls between them, he just drifts off. It’s Will’s voice and the gentle hand on his shoulder that finally pulls him back to consciousness. With a groan, he stretches in the backseat, mumbling something incoherent under his breath, before awkwardly climbing out of the car and immediately grabbing onto Will to steady himself in the beginning.

His nap was short but he feels so much better now. Of course, he can’t say that he’s sober now but the side effects have surely started to fade away.

The house is fairly small, definitely bigger than Hopper’s old cabin, but it isn’t the size that shocks him. It’s the surroundings.

The house is set almost right by the beach, water splashing softly in the distance as waves hit the sand. It’s almost calming in its own way, especially with the moon reflecting so perfectly on the surface of the water.

“Oh shit, does Joyce live here with Hopper?” Mike asks, stunned, as a light breeze messes up his hair.

“No, I actually brought you to a random house,” Will snorts. “Watch the steps.”

Mike rolls his eyes at the teasing tone in Will’s voice, but regrets it instantly when another wave of nausea hits him. He tightens his grip on Will’s waist, clinging to him like he’s his only support. He’s being a little dramatic, since he knows for sure he wouldn’t have any problems with walking by himself, he just wants to feel him close.

For a long moment, Will fumbles with the keys missing the lock over and over, until finally after a stubborn struggle, they make it inside together.

The door clicks shut behind them, muting the night sounds completely. The house greets them with complete silence and a faint smell of Joyce’s favorite laundry detergent that’s oh, so familiar to Mike. It feels safe in a way that makes Mike’s chest ache.

“Okay,” Will murmurs, still half focused on keeping Mike upright. “Make yourself comfortable, I’m gonna get you some water, okay? ”

Mike hums in response, which might be an agreement or might just be a random sound. He kicks one shoe off successfully. The other one catches on the rug and nearly sends him face first into the wall.

“Whoa- hey,” Will catches him instantly, hands firm on his sides. “Are you alright?”

“Yeah,” Mike mumbles, forehead briefly dropping against Will’s shoulder.

“I think I’ve asked you this question a thousand times today,” Will chuckles slightly, thumb subconsciously brushing against the fabric of Mike’s blazer.

He carefully guides Mike forward again, helping him peel the second shoe off and steering him toward the couch. Mike practically collapses onto it, sinking into the cushions like they’re swallowing him whole.

“I’ll go get some water, but I swear if you move even a centimeter-” Will jokes, pointing a finger at Mike as he tries to step around the couch toward the kitchen.

Before he can fully pull away, Mike wraps his fingers around his wrist. The touch is so incredibly soft, yet it still feels like it burns Will’s skin.

“I don’t want water,” Mike mumbles childishly, tugging Will back toward him, who’s a little too stunned to actually understand what’s going on.

“You know you’ll feel better right away, I really don’t want you to get yourself dehydrated and-” Will’s words catch in his throat when Mike suddenly pulls him in between his knees and just… wraps his arms around his waist.

Mike’s cheek presses into Will’s stomach, nuzzling into the fabric of his shirt, while Will just stands there completely frozen. His eyes go comically wide, heart slamming so hard in his chest he’s afraid it might actually burst.

“I already feel better,” Mike shrugs, tightening his arms just enough to pull a soft sound from Will before he can stop himself.

“Mike… what’s going on?” Will finally exhales, uncertainly lifting his hand and threading his fingers through Mike’s hair, combing through it slowly because he knows how calming it always feels to Mike.

“Nothing, I’m hugging you,” Mike mumbles, his voice muffled by the fabric of Will’s shirt.

“You know that’s not what I mean…” Will sighs, choosing his words carefully, afraid this fragile moment will shatter like all the others today. “All day I feel like I’m on some kind of rollercoaster, like- one moment everything’s fine, great even! And we’re acting like we always do but then something shifts and you’re- you’re a completely different person.”

Mike stiffens.

His arms don’t loosen, but something in him locks up, shoulders going rigid against Will’s sides. He lets out a short, sharp breath through his nose.

“I’m not being a different person,” he mutters defensively. “I’m just tired… and drunk.”

“Mike,” Will says quietly, not really pulling away, but not letting it slide either. “You’ve been looking at me like you’re both angry and scared at the same time, even before we started drinking.”

Mike lifts his head just enough to glare up at him with glassy eyes, jaw tight.

“So what, now you’re psychoanalyzing me?” he scoffs.

“That’s not fair,” Will exhales. “I’m just trying to understand, I- I don’t know what changed so suddenly.”

He hesitates, eyes closed for just a fraction of a second before finally blurting out, “Was it… was it Michael?”

The name lands like a match to gasoline.

Mike’s arms drop instantly as he shoves Will back, not hard enough to hurt him, but one sharp movement fueled by something raw in his heart. He lunges to his feet, swaying slightly with hands clenched into fists.

“I don’t want to talk about him,” he snaps.

Will just stares at him, completely stunned.

“So what, we’re just going to pretend nothing’s happening and I’ll have to put up with your moods for the rest of my life?”

“Oh, so now you plan on being with him for the rest of your life?” Mike snorts, a broken laugh escaping him. “Maybe I should call a taxi right now so you can go back to him?”

“Okay… so it is about him,” Will sighs deeply, pulse racing again and he lifts his hand to brush over his tired face.

“Whatever, man, I don’t care.” Mike waves his hand as if it truly doesn’t matter and tries to step away, though he doesn’t even know where he’s going.

Will feels something sharp twist in his chest, right through the heart and for a moment the only thing he can do is watch Mike, exhaling harshly like he’s been holding his breath for minutes.

He hates fighting with Mike, especially when it isn’t about some trivial things but something that could actually break them.

“So you don’t care about my happiness?” Will asks, voice breaking.

“Now you’re putting words in my mouth,” Mike snaps, stopping dead in his tracks and staring at him.

“Then why are you doing this?” Will pleads. “Why do you push me away, then pull me close, and then look at me like… like you lose your mind every time he opens his mouth?”

“Because I am losing it,” Mike shouts, almost losing his balance. “I want you to be happy, okay? It’s- that’s- ugh, fuck!”

“You’re weirded out by his name, aren’t you… I knew it, damn it- that’s exactly what I was afraid of,” Will mutters, voice cracking more with every word, hands shaking uncontrollably. “That’s why I couldn’t write it in the letter, Mike. I swear it’s not on p-”

“What? No, no- it’s not that. I mean- I hate it even more because… well, I hate it because-”

“Mike, you don’t make any sense,” Will groans almost painfully, blinking rapidly. “I don’t understand you, he’s good to me…”

“Not as good as I would be!” Mike yells, raw and desperate, voice cracking as the words spill out.

For a moment, Will stops breathing, his breath catching in his throat as everything around him seems to slip into slow motion. Suddenly, he comes hyper aware of everything. The way his shirt clings to his body, the heat building dangerously inside him, the fact that just looking at Mike makes his heart feel like it might explode.

“Mike, I don’t- what are you trying to-” Will stammers, unable to form a coherent sentence.

Mike groans out loud in frustration, his patience thinning by the second as his chest raises and falls rapidly, and without thinking or any warning, he lunges forward. His lips crash against Will’s in a reckless, desperate kiss hoping that all the words he couldn’t say are spilling out through the kiss.

Will freezes. For a heartbeat he just stands there, his body unbelievably stiff as he’s caught completely off guard. The world seems to narrow down to the sharp heat of Mike’s mouth on his and the wild pulse in his veins.

Then Mike’s hands find his face, gripping his cheeks with such care that melts every ounce of tension in Will’s body. His knees weaken without him even fully realizing it.

Will exhales sharply, heart hammering rhythmically and something inside him finally lets go. He’s been waiting for this particular moment for years and even though the circumstances are far from perfect, he lets himself go. He leans into Mike, tilting his head, then closes the gap fully and kisses him back with a force that matches the intensity of Mike’s.

It’s heated and messy, too much teeth clashing with each other. It’s like both of them are afraid of slowing it down just in case they realize how wrong all of this is.

Mike steps back slightly, not breaking the kiss, every centimeter of him still pressed to Will as he stumbles backward, barely making it to the couch.

Finally, with a soft curse, Mike can’t hold it any longer and their lips part, just for a moment. Will lets out a low, breathless moan as the sound of Mike’s name slips past his lips.

Mike doesn’t hesitate. In one swift motion, he grabs Will by the tie and pulls him down onto his lap, pressing him flush against himself. Will shivers instantly, caught between surprise and want, his hands twitching just slightly before resting against Mike’s chest as they collapse together against the cushions.

They kiss again, slower now, their lips brushing and teasing each other rather than colliding with no purpose. Every movement is deliberate and when Mike lets his tongue run over Will’s bottom lip, biting it a second later, something shifts around them.

Mike slowly slides one hand down the inside of Will’s thigh, while his other hand loops Will’s tie around his wrist, tugging gently at the fabric. The soft pressure draws a sharp, sudden sound from Will’s lips.

Will’s body shudders at the touch, hips pressing instinctively against Mike. They gasp together into each other’s mouths, the heat spreading quickly in their guts.

Then, out of nowhere, it’s like realization hitting Will with a full force. Will suddenly pulls back, his hands landing firmly on Mike’s chest to break the kiss even though his heart screams at him for doing so.

“Mike…” he pants, inhaling sharply. “This is… wrong- we’re drunk…”

Mike lets his hands slide from Will’s body, resting lightly on the couch to give Will some space. The tension lingers, the desire still palpable, but the unspoken understanding is more than clear- he respects Will’s boundaries… even if every fiber of him aches to reach out again.

“This is… wrong… because we’re drunk?” Mike asks breathlessly after a moment and Will nods immediately. “Would you kiss me back if you were sober?”

Will can’t answer. He knows the answer, but something holds him back from saying it out loud. Still, his gaze and the expression on his face speak volumes. And, well… the fact that he’s still sitting on Mike’s lap says plenty too.

“Would you kiss me if you were-?” Will starts to ask, returning the similar question.

“Yes,” Mike doesn’t even wait for Will to finish the sentence. “I’d kiss you in any state, Will.”

Will’s breath catches in his throat. His eyelids flutter, lashes brushing against his cheeks, which have somehow turned an even deeper shade of pink- if that’s even possible.

Maybe Will is making a mistake, but he’s spent so much of his life holding back for his own comfort’s sake. Now, for the first time, he allows himself to feel exactly what he’s wanted for so long.

His fingers clutch the fabric of Mike’s shirt again, and he leans in slowly, seeking to press their lips together in yet another desperate kiss.

They’re both so wrapped up in their own world that neither of them even notices the sounds of the car pulling up outside.

It’s only the sudden clatter of keys hitting the ground and Jonathan’s sharp, loud curse that finally reaches them, snapping them out of their private bubble. Will barely manages to stop leaning forward, their lips barely a centimeter away from each other at this point.

Will yelps and practically jumps off Mike’s lap, as if burned, scrambling back and pressing himself against the couch cushions. His eyes are wide, heart hammering and every centimeter of his body is filled with utter panic.

Mike isn’t any better, even though from the outside he looks almost normal- well, except for his swollen lips and crumpled shirt and-

Inside, he’s violently trembling with emotions.

Finally, the front door opens and Jonathan steps in first as if he’s in a hurry. Michael steps right behind him, immediately scanning the room for Will.

Mike presses his lips together, trying not to show just how red they are. Then, almost reflexively, grabs a nearby pillow and rests it on his lap, adjusting himself slightly as if to sit more normally hiding the evidence of just how much the last few minutes affected him.

“Good, you got here safely… I hope everything’s okay,” Jonathan says hurriedly, glancing at Mike for a moment before heading toward his luggage lying on the living room floor.

“Yes, just…” Will starts, rising slowly from the couch, giving Michael a tentative smile. “You were supposed to get here in an hour…”

“We had to swing by a bit earlier,” Michael says calmly, draping an arm over Will’s shoulders. “I mean, Jonathan had to, so I came along.”

“Nancy spilled wine on her dress, so I have to grab some clothes for her to change into,” Jonathan mutters, fishing through his suitcase for something not too wrinkled. “Ah, okay, this should work… taxi’s waiting for me, we should be back in around an hour so please don’t ruin the whole house, I’m talking to you Mike.”

He says it quickly, leaves the suitcase open and almost runs out the door, slamming it behind him.

Will shifts his weight from one foot to the other, glancing at Mike for a brief moment before clearing his throat.

“I- I’ll help Mike get to bed, uh-” Will pauses, placing a hand on Michael’s chest to steady himself, though really he’s just trying to calm his racing heart. “I’ll come to you soon, okay?.”

“Will? Look at me,” Michael murmurs and Mike snorts almost silently from the couch as he rises to his feet.

Well, at least this time he does it more subtly than at the wedding.

When Will finally meets Michael’s eyes, guilt starts to eat him from the inside and he struggles to hide it, especially when Michael’s gaze lingers for a heartbeat too long on his lips. Will freezes in place, afraid of what’s gonna come out of Michael’s mouth next.

“Okay,” Michael sighs heavily, leaning down to press a gentle kiss to the top of Will’s head. “I’ll be waiting in the room.”

Will parts his lips as if to say something, but the words catch in his throat. He presses them into a thin line, staring at Michael for another moment before finally nodding and stepping toward Mike, looping an arm around his waist.

“You know I can walk on my own, right?” Mike raises an eyebrow, his tone calm and more matter of fact rather than mocking.

“Should I let go then?” Will asks softly, but Mike doesn’t answer, he just leans slightly into the support, letting Will guide him.

Mike doesn’t say another word until they disappear into one of the bedrooms, the door closing softly behind them. Only then does he allow himself to sit down on the edge of the bed.

Will is also clearly on edge, mentally. He moves nervously to the small wardrobe, pulling out an extra blanket, just in case Mike gets cold during the night.

The silence between them isn’t exactly awkward, but it’s heavy and filled with everything neither of them knows how to say. They both have so much on their minds, especially Mike, but no matter how hard he tries to piece together a coherent sentence, nothing ever leaves his mouth.

Will steps closer and gently grips Mike’s jacket, slowly sliding it off his shoulders.

“Shit, I forgot you don’t have any clothes here,” Will says suddenly. “I have spare t-shirts in my bag, can you give me a minute?”

He waits and Mike just stares at him, completely spellbound, until it finally sinks in that Will is still standing there, waiting for an answer.

Mike nods and when Will gives him one of the warmest smiles he’s ever seen, Mike’s heart kicks painfully in his chest.

I’d give you all the time you need, Mike thinks as the door closes behind Will and he’s left all alone.

He looks around the small room, it feels more like a storage space than a guest room.

In the corner, a small stack of boxes sits taped closed, one labeled “Hopper” in thick marker, likely paperwork or belongings brought all the way from Hawkins. Joyce’s old sewing machine rests on the floor nearby, a quiet reminder of the past.

Mike exhales slowly, his gaze drifting back to the door as if he’s waiting for his friend to return.

His friend. The same friend he’d been kissing barely minutes ago.

At the thought, Mike lifts his hand and unconsciously brushes the pads of his fingers over his lower lip, still slightly swollen. He gently sucks it in, eyes fluttering shut, almost convinced he can still taste Will there.

Anxiety spreads in his stomach making him shift uncomfortably and take a slightly deeper breath. Was that the first, and last, time he ever kissed Will?

“Sorry it took me a bit…” Will says as he hurriedly steps back into the room. “I changed too, I couldn’t stand that suit anymore, oh- and I brought you some water.” He holds up a plastic bottle with tiny beads of condensation clinging to the sides.

Mike’s gaze drifts over him in an instant, taking in how warm and comfortable Will looks in his gray sweatpants and a simple white t-shirt that clings onto his body. For a moment, Mike is pretty sure his heart stops beating and only then does he realize he’s been holding his breath.

“I’ll put the water on the nightstand,” Will adds, doing exactly that. “I hope the shirt won’t be too short on you.”

Mike doesn’t answer. He just stares at Will with wide eyes until he finally shakes his head, forcing himself back into reality.

His fingers immediately go for the knot of his tie, fumbling as he tries to undo it, but they’re still trembling slightly from the residual alcohol in his bloodstream, making it harder than it should be.

“Fuck,” Mike mutters under his breath, tugging at the fabric in frustration. “Stupid piece of shit, I’m never wearing one of these again.”

Will hesitates, glancing at how much Mike is struggling with his tie. Eventually he sighs in quiet surrender and steps closer, stopping right between Mike’s knees.

“Give it to me…” Will murmurs, gently placing his hands over Mike’s and guiding them away from the tie.

He bites his lower lip lightly, then his fingers work the knot loose with careful precision.

Halfway through, Will notices the way Mike is watching him. When he lifts his gaze, his fingers freeze completely. He blinks a few times, lips parting without meaning to, while Mike just keeps staring at him, like- like he’s a painting.

Like he’s trying to memorize every centimeter of his face.

Only now does Will realize how close they are. Close enough that he can feel Mike’s warm breath against his cheek, making heat rush to his face.

“You’re so beautiful…” Mike whispers suddenly.

Will sucks in a sharp breath and tugs on the tie, loosening the knot completely before stepping back almost at the same time.

“Jesus, Mike,” Will breathes completely flustered, face burning. “You can’t say things like that.”

“Shame,” Mike shrugs like it’s nothing. “You should hear it.”

He starts unbuttoning his shirt impatiently.

Will’s eyes widen and he immediately turns his back to him, which makes Mike lift his eyebrows in confusion.

“Will… you’ve seen me without a shirt more times than everyone else combined.”

“This is… different,” Will mutters, mostly because he doesn’t want Mike to see just how red he’s gotten.

Silence falls between them. The only sounds in the room are their uneven breathing and the rustle of fabric as Mike struggles with his shirt, finally pulling it off. When Will hears the buckle of Mike’s belt hit the floor, he knows that’s his cue to turn back around.

“Madonna, seriously?” Mike groans, grabbing the hem of the shirt Will gave him and stretching it out to show him.

Will lets out a quiet laugh, shrugging. “I give you a bed, water, my own shirt and you’re still complaining? What more do you want?”

Please don’t say it. Please don’t say it.

“You,” Mike murmurs, sitting back down on the bed and leaning forward while resting his elbows on each of his knees.

Will freezes.

For a heartbeat, he just stares at Mike like he’s been struck clean right in the chest. Heat rushes up his neck, his ears burning and thoughts scattering in every direction at once.

“Mike…” he breathes, barely louder than the sound of the waves outside. He rubs a hand over his face, then lets it drop to his side, fingers curling over the material of his sweatpants like he needs something to hold onto.

Mike exhales sharply, dragging a hand through his hair like he’s trying to physically pull his thoughts into order.

“Lucas and Max, they’re- they’re staying at the same hotel,” he starts again, words tumbling over each other. “And I didn’t mean to listen, I swear, but I overheard them talking and- God, now that I’m saying it out loud it sounds so stupid.”

He lets out a breathless, humorless laugh and shakes his head.

“They were talking about you going to the wedding with Michael, and I- I just-” his leg starts bouncing faster. “I thought they meant me, I don’t know- I just thought that-”

Mike swallows.

“And I was so happy,” he admits quietly. “Like, stupidly happy, probably the happiest I’ve been in… I don’t even know how long.” his eyes squeeze shut for a moment. “So when I saw you with him it just-”

He shrugs, helpless.

“I don’t know, I guess I was just angry or upset, or maybe both I don’t even- I don’t understand it myself, it just- yeah.”

Through his whole monologue, Mike can’t even meet Will’s eyes. His gaze moves everywhere, down at the floor, along the walls, even at that Joyce’s dumb old sewing machine.

Will listens to every word and with each one something inside him feels like it’s slowly breaking, creaks getting bigger and threatening to collapse. He’s surprised he’s even able to breathe. His eyes glisten with unshed tears and his fingers, still clutching the fabric of his sweatpants, tighten and loosen unconsciously.

“What I mean is- I’m really sorry,” Mike finally breathes out, like a heavy weight lifts off his chest and at last, he looks directly at Will. “For ruining the wedding- I mean I didn’t ruin the wedding but I… ruined your fun. And I’m sorry.”

Will’s eyes widen, his chest tightening as his heart pounds wildly in his rib cage. Panic flares in his throat, but he forces himself to inhale slowly trying to steady the chaos inside.

It feels completely wrong to talk about this now, with both of them still tipsy. Will can feel the alcohol still buzzing in his veins and he knows Mike feels it too.

He trusts Mike with everything, but right now he just doesn’t fully trust himself. His heart is hammering in his chest, his breath comes too fast and every part of him is aware of how fragile this moment really is.

He needs to hear this, Mike’s confession, his apology, when they’re sober. And maybe then he’ll be able to wrap his head around it.

Will takes a shaky breath, his chest rising and falling too quickly. He shifts closer to the edge of the bed, finally sitting down right next to Mike.

“Mike, it’s not that easy, I- I accept your apology, but…” he hesitates, glancing away as his fingers fidget now with the hem of his shirt. “The rest… I’m not saying you’re lying, but I think we should… wait until we’re both sober, I- I don’t want you to say something you’ll regret in the morning and I-”

“I would never regret what I say about my feelings, Will,” Mike interrupts, frowning slightly, a trace of offense in his voice. “It’s not the alcohol that makes me want you.”

“Mike, please,” Will murmurs, his voice breaking as tears threaten to spill. He looks down, trying to steady himself.

“Okay, okay…” Mike starts, lifting a hand as if to gently touch Will’s cheek, but hesitates and pulls it back at the last second. “If that’s what you want… we’ll talk tomorrow.”

Will nods, his eyes locking on Mike’s for a moment, his heart wanting oh so badly to just stay, to kiss him, to curl up beside him for the night. But he swallows the urge, shaking his head slightly.

“Goodnight, Mike,” he whispers, voice tight.

Without another word, he hurries out of the room and closes the door behind him. He stays in place for what feels like hours, shoulders shaking as silent sobs wrack his body.

It’s so damn unfair, Will can’t even count how many times he imagined what it would be like if Mike felt the same. For years, he cried into his pillow, carrying that heavy and tormenting feeling all alone.

And now, just as he’s slowly starting to piece his life back together, learning to bury his feelings for Mike deep in his heart, fate seems to mock him.

And at that exact moment, Michael steps out of the bathroom. His eyes land on Will and they immediately widen in shock.

“Hey… Will, what’s wrong?” he asks, worry appearing in his voice. In that moment, Will hates how good of a person Michael is. “Did you… fight?”

“I don’t want to talk about it, please, I-”

“It’s okay, we don’t have to talk about it now,” Michael says quickly, slipping his arm around Will’s shoulders and guiding him slowly toward the bedroom they’re sharing. “Come on… let’s get you into bed.”

Will shifts stiffly, his shoulders still trembling as he holds back another sob threatening to escape. He feels foolish, Michael has to see him like this, not even knowing what’s really going on.

Slowly, Will places himself on the edge of their bed, letting out a quiet snort as the whole situation feels like some absurd parallel. Mike had sat in the exact same position a few minutes earlier, spilling his heart out.

“You were only supposed to tear up at the wedding,” Michael says with a sad laugh, settling beside him and gently cupping Will’s face in his hands, wiping away a stray tear that slides down his cheek.

“I told myself I wouldn’t cry at all and look at this,” Will murmurs, forcing a small painful smile.

Michael shifts slightly, brushing a hand down Will’s arm as he speaks softly. “You should… try to get some sleep, you know- it’s been a long night.”

Will nods, still curled slightly on the edge of the bed. Michael leans over and presses a gentle kiss to the top of his head. Will feels a flicker of confusion, Michael always kisses him goodnight but since leaving the wedding, he hasn’t given Will a single kiss on the lips. Not that Will minds, his guilt wouldn’t let him kiss back anyway. It’s just… weird.

They settle in, the room dim and quiet. Will lies on his side, eyes open and mind still racing, while Michael’s arm lies loosely around Will’s waist.

He tosses under the covers for what feels like hours, even though he tries so hard to keep still, not to wake Michael up.

After some time, faint sounds drift from the living room, Jonathan’s keys jingling, Nancy’s soft giggle and his brother quietly shushing her with a laugh of his own.

He hears the subtle thumps and creaks as they move the cushions, shifting the couch into a makeshift bed. Will’s heart pounds softly and even though sleep teases him, he stays alert for a little more before finally the exhaustion wins.

That night, Will barely dreams at all and the night itself passes unbelievably fast. So when his eyes slowly open, he feels like he’s slept maybe an hour at most.

Somewhere in the middle of the night, he must have moved away from Michael because they’re lying on opposite sides of the bed, which has never happened before. Will still has nightmares, he told Mike they were gone, but they still come every now and then, which is why he loves sleeping pressed against someone. So this distance feels strange.

Will shakes his head and gets up from the bed without waking Michael, then quietly leaves the room, glancing at Jonathan and Nancy still asleep. He smiles lightly and immediately heads to the bathroom to freshen up.

When he comes back to the room, Michael is already awake, looking like he’s been waiting for Will.

“Good morning. Did you sleep well?”

“Hey… I guess,” Will shrugs and nervously bites his lower lip.

“I know it’s still pretty early but… can we please talk?”

Will freezes at the question, anxiety immediately rising in his chest, but he slowly nods anyway, sitting on the spot Michael pats, calling him over.

They sit in silence for a few minutes. Michael isn’t sure how to start the conversation and Will just sits patiently, letting him gather all his thoughts. Finally he takes a deep breath and forces himself to ask the next question.

“Is that him?”

Will’s gaze immediately snaps to Michael, his head moving so fast he feels a slight twinge in his neck. He raises his eyebrows, questioning, even though deep down he already knows what Michael is asking.

“Is that… Mike?” Michael adds gently, his voice still incredibly soft.

“I- I don’t understand what you’re asking,” Will whispers, afraid of raising his voice even a little.

“Were you in love with Mike? Is he the straight best friend you had feelings for?” Michael asks directly.

All the color drains from Will’s face and his lips part as he takes a sharp breath. This is it, Michael has read him almost entirely, like he’s some damn open book.

“Why- why are you asking this now- ” Will stammers, his hands twisting nervously until Michael takes them in his own, squeezing them gently.

“Calm down, Will, please,” Michael sighs, already regretting starting this topic. “Just nod… it is Mike, right?”

Will inhales sharply and after a beat of hesitation he nods slowly, his chest rising and falling unnaturally fast.

Michael nods too and for a moment there’s silence between them. He seems lost in thoughts, still running his thumbs over Will’s knuckles, grounding him and keeping him steady.

“I don’t understand why all of a sudden-”

“I see it, Will. I saw it at the wedding and here too, to be honest I think anyone could’ve seen it if they tried hard enough,” Michael says with a sad laugh, glancing for a moment at their hands still intertwined. “You kissed… didn’t you?”

As if on cue, something in Will snaps. The tears that weren’t there a second ago start streaming down his face. Michael exhales softly, hating to see him like this and without hesitation pulls Will into his chest, letting his cheek rest against Michael’s.

“It’s fine, Will,” he says, stroking Will’s back gently. “I think I knew from the start… when I saw the way he looked at you outside of the church and the way you looked at him…”

“I didn’t want this, I really didn’t want it to happen like this.” Will cries harder, soaking Michael’s shirt.

“I know Will, I believe you,” Michael replies. “I’m a little upset it went down this way, but… we’ve been together less than a month. Neither of us was even sure at first if this relationship was a good idea… well, at least now we know.”

Will’s crying slowly quiets over time, leaving only soft sighs and sniffles filling the room. Michael slowly places his hands on Will’s shoulders, pushing him slightly off his chest so their eyes can finally meet.

“I don’t understand how you can be so calm… so good even after all that…” Will shakes his head, lifting a hand to wipe the last traces of tears from his cheeks.

“Oh, trust me,” Michael laughs. “I actually kinda want to beat Mike up right in this second- but it’s fiiiiine.”

Will pouts, but the corners of his mouth twitch upward anyway. He drops his gaze to his fingers, fidgeting with them with a long and painfully heavy sigh.

“Go to him,” Michael rolls his eyes. “Don’t make me be your wingman right now, because even for me that’s too much.”

Will stays seated on the mattress for a while, hesitating, as if he isn’t even sure himself whether this is a good idea. Is he really ready to talk about all of this with Mike, completely sober? Part of him hopes, stupidly, that maybe Mike doesn’t remember the details of last night.

“Okay,” Will nods, pushing himself up nervously. “I’ll go, you’re right… I’ll go.”

He repeats it, more like he’s trying to convince himself than Michael.

Then he heads for the door and slips into the hallway, careful not to wake Jonathan or Nancy.

The entire walk to the room where Mike is sleeping, Will keeps repeating a rehearsed little script in his head- what he’s going to say, how he’s going to say it. But then he hears a sudden thud like something hitting the floor and every alarm in his brain goes off. A muffled curse follows immediately, unmistakably Mike’s voice.

Will doesn’t think too much, he just grabs the handle and throws the door open.

Mike is sitting on the bed, or rather, half dangling off it, reaching for a bottle of water on the floor. The scream that rips out of Mike would almost be funny if it weren’t so loud and unexpected that Will yelps too.

“For the love of God, keep it down,” Jonathan groans irritably from the couch.

Will’s eyes widen. He rushes inside and shuts the door behind him.

“Jesus, Will- if you wanted to get rid of me, you could’ve just kicked me out of the house instead of giving me a heart attack!” Mike groans dramatically, one hand pressed to his chest as he breathes deeply. “Why didn’t you knock?!”

“I heard something fall, I thought you hurt yourself!” Will fires back, just as breathless.

“I dropped my water bottle, and-” Mike cuts himself off, blinking a few times. “Will… were you crying?”

In an instant, Mike’s on his feet, closing the distance between them and instinctively cupping Will’s face in his hands. His eyes narrow slightly as he studies him closely, but he’d recognize those flushed cheeks and reddened eyes anywhere. Up close, Mike even notices that Will’s long lashes are now stuck together.

“It’s nothing…” Will sighs, his heart racing as he places his hands on Mike’s wrists, sliding them gently off his face.

“Nothing? Will, you were crying… was it him? Did he say something to you? God, I swear, Will, if he said anything-”

“Mike, it’s okay… I promise,” Will reassures him, feeling warmth spread through him at the protective tone in Mike’s voice. “Did you sleep okay?”

Will tries his best to change the subject as soon as possible. Mike nods slowly, still unsure if he should drop the topic, but then he looks away, suddenly shy now that they’re actually in this close proximity.

“Like a child, honestly,” he says with a small smile. “You?”

“Could’ve been better,” Will admits, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. His heart pounds rapidly in his rib cage. “I… wanted to talk to you.”

Mike exhales heavily and nods in understanding. Then he takes a step back to give them some space and wipes his sweaty palms against his bare thighs.

The movement makes Will’s gaze drop automatically, following Mike’s hands and the second he realizes where he’s looking, heat rushes straight to his face.

“Uh,” Mike mutters, his eyes flicking down to himself too- he is, after all, wearing nothing but an oversized t-shirt and boxers. “Not that I’m trying to delay the conversation, but… could I maybe get some pants?”

“Yeah- yeah, of course!” Will blurts out and practically bolts from the room, shutting the door a little harder than necessary.

“Good God, have mercy please!” Nancy’s hoarse from sleep voice carries sharply down the hallway.

“Sorry!” Will whisper-yells back.

He hurries to the room he shares with Michael and when he sees Will return so quickly, he raises his eyebrows in disbelief and pushes himself up on the bed.

“That fast? Don’t tell me you chickened out,” Michael groans, frustrated.

Will rolls his eyes and crouches in front of his bag, digging through it again, desperately hoping to find a pair of sweatpants long enough for Mike.

“Not yet,” he snorts, grabbing a dark pair and standing back up. “Tempting, though. ”

And just as quickly as he appeared, he’s gone again- back to Mike’s room. This time, he knocks and waits until he’s told to come in.

Will tosses the pants in Mike’s direction and, for once, doesn’t turn away. He just very deliberately keeps his eyes up, absolutely refusing to look at the way Mike bends to pull them on.

Mike steps into the sweatpants, tugging them up properly, then straightens and exhales like he’s been holding his breath the entire time. He runs a hand through his hair, messy and sticking up in places, then looks at Will, really looks at him.

Will lets out a breath he didn’t realize he was holding and nods, clasping his hands together in front of him like that might keep them from shaking.

There’s a beat of silence, stretching heavy between both of them.

“So,” Mike starts, then stops. He huffs out a breath and tries again. “You said you wanted to talk.”

“Yeah,” Will swallows, his throat feels tight. “About last night.”

Mike’s shoulders tense immediately, but he doesn’t look away. That alone feels huge.

“Right,” he says. “Last night.”

Another pause. Mike shifts his weight, then finally blurts out before he can stop himself, “I remember it. Just- before you ask, I do remember everything.”

Will’s stomach drops painfully at that.

“Oh,” he breathes. “Okay.”

“Okay?”

“Yeah,” Will adds, head hung low as he looks at the floor.

Mike can’t help it, a quiet chuckle leaves his mouth and after a few seconds it morphs into a full laughter. He holds his hands up in defense, trying to bite his lower lip to stop himself from laughing.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, it’s just-“ Mike lets out a soft breath, tilting his head slightly with a warm smile tugging at his lips. “You were really pushing for this conversation since last night and now you can barely-“

“Stop making fun of me!” Will groans, pushing his lower lip out. “Are you… sure you remember everything?”

“The part where I kissed you when we got home and you kissed me back?” Mike asks, lifting one hand and raising a finger. “The part where I told you you were beautiful…” He trails off, lifting a second finger. “Or the part where I thought we were going to the wedding together?”

Will’s pupils widen instantly, his cheeks flushing even darker until they feel like they’re on fire.

“Will, I meant it- every single thing I said,” Mike says, hope lacing his voice as he takes a step closer to him. “Come on… look at me.”

A soft gasp slips from Will’s throat as he shifts anxiously. He’s just about to lift his head and meet Mike’s eyes, but before he can, Mike is already there, gently placing his trembling fingers under Will’s chin and lifting it.

“I know this might be uncomfortable, and I’m sorry if I’m making you feel that way, but-” Mike cuts himself off, pressing his lips together and squeezing his eyes shut for a moment before nodding. “I don’t know- I mean, damn it, I can’t focus when you look at me like that.”

Mike lets out a nervous laugh, swallowing hard as his throat bobs noticeably.

“I know you have a boyfriend, but-”

He doesn’t get to finish. Before he can even register what’s happening, Will closes the distance between them and presses his lips to Mike’s, knocking the breath clean out of him.

For a moment, Mike stands frozen, but in the next second, shock melts into pure desire. Instantly, he slides one hand up to Will’s neck, spreading his fingers so that he also cups Will’s jaw, tilting his head to the side. The other hand clamps onto Will’s hip and with one smooth motion, he presses him against the door, Will’s back hitting it with a soft thud.

Will lets out a startled gasp, which Mike swallows eagerly, deepening the kiss. For a second, he releases Will’s hip to grab his wrist, looping Will’s arm over his own shoulder, silently instructing him to wrap his arms around his neck.

“Mike…” Will moans out loud, his heart hammering so fast he feels dizzy, completely overwhelmed.

“Shhh,” Mike whispers, his hand returning to its place.

The fabric of Will’s shirt lifts slightly as he wraps his arms around Mike, letting the tips of Mike’s fingers brush against a patch of bare skin.

Mike smiles widely through the kiss, forcing them to pause for a moment. His hand still holds Will’s face close, so every word he speaks sends their lips brushing against each other.

“Were you thinking about me…” Mike breathes heavily against Will’s mouth. “…when he kissed you? When you moaned his, our name, just like now?”

“Jesus Christ, Mike,” Will gasps, a shiver running through his body that Mike can feel immediately under his fingers. “I’ve never moaned like that before.”

“That’s not an answer to my question, but I’ll take it,” Mike breathes throatily, sliding his hand slightly to the side so he can trace the pad of his thumb along Will’s swollen lower lip, still glossy from the kiss.

Even though the kiss didn’t last that long, Will looks completely ruined. His hair is messy, his lips slightly parted as if waiting for more. Mike’s gaze drifts over his flushed cheeks, the warmth radiating from them practically burning under his fingers. And his eyes, Will’s gaze is like something out of Mike’s deepest fantasy, hazy and glistening with tears of pleasure.

Mike can’t hold back another smile, one so big his cheeks ache from it. He barely stops himself long enough to press a soft kiss to Will’s lips, then another, until he finishes with a gentle brush against the corner of his mouth.

“You’re so beautiful,” Mike murmurs into his mouth, sliding his hand up from Will’s neck and threading his fingers into his hair to run them through once.

“Have you seen yourself?” Will asks, his lips still parted and tingling from the intensity of the kisses.

“What?” Mike frowns, tilting his head back slightly so he can meet Will’s eyes. “What are you talking about?”

“Mike… you’re beautiful.” Will breathes, sliding his hands from Mike’s shoulders to rest on his waist. “Don’t look at me like you don’t already know that.”

“I- I don’t really-” Mike presses his lips together, his eyebrows flicking up as if he can’t hide his emotions. “Shut up.”

Will laughs softly, twisting the fabric of Mike’s shirt between his fingers and tilting his head back to rest the back of it against the door.

“So… what now?” Will asks, his heart hammering.

“Uh, I mean…” Mike smiles, glancing down for a moment before locking eyes with him again. “The big question is… are you single?”

Will nods, and Mike’s heart skips as his hands twitch over Will’s body.

“That’s cool,” Mike says. “I can work with that.”

Will snorts, amused, sliding his hand lower to wrap his fingers around Mike’s wrist, pushing both of them off the door to step closer to the bed. Mike gets the hint immediately, climbing onto it and pulling Will down with him so his head rests on Mike’s thigh.

“You’re sure… I mean- are you really single?” Mike asks after a moment, his fingers gently massaging the skin on Will’s scalp, occasionally scratching lightly with his nails.

“Mike,” Will laughs, lifting his gaze to meet Mike’s. “I’m not in love with him, if that’s what you’re trying to get from me. Michael and I started dating less than a month ago and at first, we weren’t even sure it would work, we were… we were lonely.”

For a moment, Mike sits with his lips pressed together, his hand frozen in Will’s hair and Will’s stomach tightens at the sudden pause. He almost forces himself to speak, worried he said something wrong, when Mike exhales and slowly nods.

“Me and Michael- that’s our song, just so you know” Mike says with a shrug, continuing to run his fingers through Will’s hair and play with it, making Will close his eyes.

“Hm?”

“Me and Michael- that’s our song,” he repeats.

Will’s eyelids slowly open and his gaze softens instantly, filled with something that makes Mike feel a hord of butterflies exploding in his stomach.

“Yeah,” Will breathes, the corners of his mouth twitching. “I know.”

Mike grins instantly, so wide it’s practically from ear to ear. Will chuckles under his breath and raises his hand to playfully hit his stomach. Mike folds dramatically at the waist, leaning down so his lips land on Will’s in a short but passionate kiss.

“But you do realize I’m heading back to New York with Michael in three days?” Will says suddenly, his hand pressing against Mike’s chest, gripping the fabric to gently push him back for a second.

“Of course, I know where you study,” Mike rolls his eyes, leaning in to kiss Will again but Will stops him.

“So you’re aware that Michael’s staying here until then and I can’t just push him aside and spend all my time with you?” Will asks, narrowing his eyes to watch Mike’s reaction.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Mike groans, straightening his back before letting himself flop backward onto the mattress.

Will laughs softly, turning onto his left side and resting his cheek against Mike’s thigh. Mike can’t stay mad for long and seconds later, his hand finds Will’s, intertwining their fingers.

“You’ve got me wrapped around your finger, you know that right?” Mike lets out a long sigh, but his face softens. “Okay, I can handle that.”

He adds with a soft smile, lifting their intertwined hands to place a a tender kiss on the back of Will’s hand.

Will exhales softly, smiling back with his warm cheeks flushed pink.

4 months later

Will pants loudly for the fifth time as he crosses the threshold of his New York apartment. His arms are starting to tremble from exhaustion and when he finally sets the last box down on the floor, a long and heavy sigh escapes his lips- like he’s been holding it in for years.

“Please tell me that was the last one,” Will groans, placing his hands on his lower back and forcing himself to straighten a little to relieve the pressure in his spine.

“I wish,” Mike says, even more out of breath, dropping a box onto the couch and collapsing down with it. “But I still saw my bag in the stairwell.”

“I’ll get it. You two rest, because at this rate I’m about to have to call an ambulance for you,” Jonathan snorts, rolling his eyes as he disappears out the apartment door.

In the background, Jonathan’s hurried footsteps echo down the stairs, along with the heavy breathing of Will and Mike. Unable to help himself, Will peers over the back of the couch to check if Mike is still alive after all that effort but the moment their eyes meet, Mike grabs him by the forearms and pulls him down onto the couch with him.

“Gross, you’re all sweaty,” Will pants, squirming and trying to break free, which only makes Mike tighten his hold.

“It was your idea that I bring the rest of the stuff today,” Mike shakes his head, lifting it just enough to press a soft kiss to his boyfriend’s lips. “I drove over twelve hours for you, so please don’t complain.”

“Not my fault the elevator broke and I couldn’t just call you in the middle of your ride,” Will rolls his eyes, but gives in instantly when he feels Mike’s lips on his again. “This isn’t Hawkins, we can’t communicate with walkie-talkies.”

“Mmm, that’s actually true,” Mike laughs, sliding his hand up to Will’s cheek and pulling him in, this time sealing their lips together properly.

Will hums with content into the kiss, returning it with equal intensity. He shifts to fit between Mike’s legs, propping himself up on his hands as the kiss grows deeper with every passing second.

They’re both starting to run out of air, but neither wants to pull away. In the end, Mike is the one who saves them from suffocating. He breaks the kiss only after gently sucking on Will’s lower lip, drawing a low moan from his throat.

“Cherry chapstick?” Mike asks, running the tip of his tongue over his own lips. “I thought you lost it.”

Will nods, smiling warmly as he pushes himself up from the couch and straddles Mike’s stomach instead, his legs settling on either side of his hips.

“I bought a new one,” he says proudly. “I know it’s your favorite.”

Mike lets out a pleased growl in response and sits up as well, placing his hands on Will’s waist and leaning in to kiss him again, just as Jonathan bursts back into the apartment, breathing hard.

“Please spare me the visuals,” Jonathan pants, tossing Mike’s bag onto the floor and bending over to catch his breath, hands braced on his knees. “Man, fuck the cardio.”

“Admit it, you’re jealous of us because you and Nancy have turned into old people,” Will snorts, turning his gaze to his brother.

“With Nancy? We’re doing great, actually, more than great- in every possible way,” Jonathan says, winking at them. Mike immediately groans in protest and buries his face in the crook of Will’s neck.

“Gross. Don’t tell me things like that about my sister,” he mutters, though his words are muffled and probably barely understandable.

Will pats Mike’s arms a few times and reluctantly lifts himself off his lap, walking over to Jonathan and picking up Mike’s bag from the floor, then setting it down closer to the boxes.

“By the way, did you bring all of Hawkins with you?” Jonathan straightens up, rolling his head to loosen his neck. “What do you even have in those boxes?”

“Important stuff,” Mike rolls his eyes, settling more comfortably on the couch and spreading his arms out.

“No wonder you’ve been trying to move all this for a month.”

“I told him to ship the boxes and just fly here, but he decided this was a good way to see the country,” Will snorts, stepping over to the table to grab the mug of tea he made earlier.

After all the time they spent carrying boxes, it’s gone cold and a grimace crosses his face. Mike notices immediately. Without a word, he gets up from the couch, takes the mug from Will’s hand and walks into the kitchen, pouring it down the sink.

He fills the kettle with water and sets it on the stove, turning on the flame. He drops a tea bag into the mug right away and adds two teaspoons of sugar so he won’t have to rush everything later.

Mike comes back into the living room, wraps an arm around Will’s waist and plants a quick kiss on his cheek. “New tea is on the way, the peachy one- hope that’s alright?”

The corners of Will’s mouth lift into a wide smile. “More than alright, thank you.”

Mike gives him a warm smile in return, then looks back at Jonathan.

“And I stand by my choice- I saw a lot,” Mike says.

“Mike, stopping at rest stops to use the bathroom does not count as touring America,” Will laughs loudly, nudging his boyfriend with his elbow.

“I just hate flying, okay?” Mike groans, throwing his hands up in the air.

Jonathan finally can’t hold it in anymore and starts laughing too, immediately wincing as his back protests. He starts complaining that he’s going to strangle Mike and that this is all his fault- but his rant is cut short by the phone ringing.

Will raises his eyebrows slightly and walks over to the phone hanging on the wall just as the water in the kettle starts heating up. Mike heads back into the kitchen while Will answers the phone, bringing the receiver to his ear.

“Byers-Wheeler residence,” he says calmly, then frowns a moment later. “Jonathan? Oh… yeah, he’s here… sure, hold on.”

Will pulls the receiver away from his ear and covers part of it with his hand, looking over at Jonathan.

“Michael’s calling. He says he’s been trying to reach you for an hour,” Will mutters, lifting the receiver slightly in a silent question.

“Give it to me,” Jonathan says quickly, grabbing the phone and immediately heading toward the other room to talk in private. “Hey, Michael- yeah… I’m at Will’s, helping Mike with-”

His voice fades as Jonathan closes the door behind him. Will, meanwhile, hears a very loud sigh coming from the kitchen and he snorts, rolling his eyes.

“I heard that sigh,” Will says amused, crossing his arms over his chest.

“Why would I sigh, Will, that’s so rude,” Mike immediately pretends to be offended as he comes out of the kitchen with a mug of freshly made tea. “That was just the water boiling.”

Will shakes his head, murmuring a quiet thank you as Mike hands him the mug, still almost boiling hot. But that’s exactly how Will likes it, he loves warmth in every form… and with Mike, that warmth feels constant.

“Are you going to react like that every single time he’s even mentioned?” Will raises an eyebrow, lifting the mug closer to his lips to take a tiny sip.

“Not every time,” Mike shrugs, taking the mug from Will’s hands again and setting it aside on the table. “Only sometimes.”

Will snorts, arching a brow as Mike drapes Will’s arms over his shoulders while his hands tighten around Will’s waist.

“You are aware that Michael is going to be part of our lives, right?”

“And will I be allowed to kiss you extra hard whenever he’s watching?” Mike asks, pressing Will flush against him and starting to leave slow kisses along his jaw.

For a moment, Will feels his knees nearly buckle. He bites down on his lower lip and instinctively tips his head back. His hand clenches in the fabric of Mike’s sweater, a quiet whine slipping from his lips.

After a second, though, he shakes his head and gently pushes Mike away, shooting him a ridiculous look.

“You’re awful,” Will breathes, adjusting his shirt and clearing his throat.

“What? I’m just asking!” Mike says, pouting.

Will tries his hardest to look annoyed, controlling his expression even works this time, but Mike knows better. That’s why he slips a finger under the small chest pocket of Will’s shirt and tugs him close again.

“Though, you know… I’m kind of grateful to him,” Mike continues, smiling softly when he notices the confusion on Will’s face. “If I hadn’t seen you two together, I’d probably still be closed off.”

“Ah, yes…” Will chuckles, nodding. “Mr. ‘I’m not gay that’s a- that’s a-‘ Wheeler.”

“I’m not- I mean- I don’t know,” Mike shrugs, his thumbs moving soothingly along Will’s waist. “And honestly, I don’t care. I just love you.”

Will feels his entire body catch on fire at those words. Mike seems to realize what he’s said too, his pupils blow wide in a way that would be funny if Will’s heart wasn’t racing so fast. For a split second, Will fears Mike might panic and pull away- but instead, Mike’s eyes soften even more, like this is the last thing he needed to admit, to himself and to Will.

“I love you too,” Will breathes, his voice trembling.

The brief wave of anxiety was worth it, though, because the smile Mike gives him is one Will knows he will never forget. They move together in sync, meeting halfway, their lips crashing against each other in a heated kiss that lasts longer than their breaths allow.

“Thank god for Michael, then,” Will says satisfied and gazing into Mike’s eyes.

“Baby… too far” Mike murmurs, pressing his lips together.

“Right- shit, sorry,” Will says quickly.

Their eyes meet and they both laugh loudly, shaking their heads in disbelief.