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Mike was walking down the small corridor on his way to give Will and Joyce a heads-up about the change in their plan when a quiet sob made him stop completely in his tracks. He stood frozen for a few moments, hidden behind the wall as he tried to listen to the conversation in the other room.
“..He sees everything, mom. He sees my thoughts, my memories and- he sees my secrets.” He heard Will take a shaky breath, his voice cracking at the end.
“But Max, she told me that Vecna’s afraid too- which means that I can beat him.” Will paused again, catching his breath. Mike frowned as he tried to lean closer without accidentally revealing himself.
“But for me to do that, you need to know,” Will continued.
Another sob escaped his throat and Mike had to stop himself from walking into the room and wrap his arms around his best friend. They weren't close like that anymore and Mike could tell that whatever Will was going to say next was important so he stayed put, his head leaning heavily on the wall.
“I, uh. I haven't told anyone this because I didn’t want you to see me differently. But the truth is that I am, I am different.” Will took a deep breath, bracing himself before continuing with a new confidence in his voice.
“I’m- I don't like girls,” he finally said and the room went quiet.
Mike froze and suddenly felt like he couldn't breathe. The air in the room shifted and his mind went blank. He could absently hear Joyce's voice in the background but the hard beating of his heart was drowning it out and he couldn’t make out any actual words.
The words were playing inside his head, over and over again. I don't like girls. His stomach twisted. His chest felt like it might burst. Nothing in the room existed except that sentence.
Had Mike really heard that right or was someone messing with his head? He knew that Vecna had a tendency of breaking into people's minds, Max being a prime example of that, but he didn't feel like his mind was overtaken.
“Little Wheeler?” A voice from behind startled him and he turned quickly as if he'd been caught doing something he shouldn't. Which- maybe he was.
He watched as Robin came into view and tried to act casual by leaning on the wall but accidentally hit his elbow on it instead and had to bite the inside of his cheek to keep himself from screaming out in pain. Robin raised an eyebrow at his obvious attempt at playing it cool but didn't say anything.
“What’s taking you so long?” She asked, her voice cutting through the quiet room and Mike had to rush towards her and put a hand over her mouth.
“Shhh” He whispered quickly and glanced worriedly behind him.
He gave her a sharp look before taking his hand off her mouth and wiping it on his sweater as Robin let out an annoyed sound.
“What?” She whispered, confusion clear on her face.
“Just-” Mike didn't know what to say. He didn’t even know what he was thinking. He cleared his throat and opened his mouth to answer just as someone turned the corner. Mike turned around quickly and almost collided with Will.
Will froze as he saw him and Mike fiddled nervously with his hands, neither of them saying anything.
“Did you-”
“I was just-”
They both spoke at the same time.
“Sorry, you go first,” Mike said sheepishly, heat starting to crawl up his neck.
“Uh, did you hear what me and mom talked about?” Will asked, shifting uncomfortably from foot to foot.
“No!” Mike said quickly, wincing at the sharpness of his own words.
“I mean, no, Robin and I were just on our way to the kitchen, right?” Mike looked pointedly at Robin who was observing the scene from where she was standing a few steps away.
“Yeah, me and Wheeler here were just passing” She said casually and her face lit up as she spoke, a knowing look taking over her features.
“Oh, okay,” Mike could see how Will's shoulders relaxed at that and he swallowed thickly, guilt filling his body.
The room held its breath and Mike was suddenly aware of how close he was standing to Will, the small corridor crowding them in. Will had a streak of paint on his left cheek and Mike wanted to reach out and remove it with the pad of his thumb.
“Yeah, so we’ll be going now,” Robin grinned and pulled Mike away by his wrist, ignoring the sound of surprise he let out as he let himself get dragged along.
She dragged him up the stairs and into the bathroom on the second floor, closing the door firmly behind them. When she finally let go of him, Mike quickly pulled away from her grasp and crossed his arms defensively over his chest. Robin just raised her eyebrows at him.
“What?” He said dumbly.
“You’re going to tell me why I just lied to baby Byers down there, and please do not make me regret defending whatever-the-hell you were doing spying on him”
“I wasn't spying on him!” Mike defended himself quickly. Robin lifted her eyebrows at that.
“I was just- resting.”
“Resting?” Robin repeated slowly with an unimpressed wrinkle between her eyes.
“Yeah.” Mike said, putting his hands on his hips.
“Let me get this straight. You went inside to tell Will and Joyce about the plan and when I go in looking for you, you’re leaning against the wall with your ear pressed against it just as Will and his mom are having an intimate conversation on the other side."
She paused dramatically before adding: "resting".
Mike just blinked at her.
“Well when you put it like that I guess it sounds bad.” He said, feeling his face heat up.
Robin just sighed and shook her head as if he was a toddler who had just been caught stealing candy.
“So, what did he say?” She asked.
“What?” Mike tensed up, not expecting the question.
“What. Did. He. Say?” Robin rolled her eyes as if he was slow.
“He, uh-” Mike didn’t know if he should tell her. He didn’t want to out Will when he clearly wasn’t ready for people to know. Hell- Will hadn’t even told Mike yet. He could feel panic starting to form in his chest, the knot in his stomach tightening.
Mike met Robin's eyes with a plea and he could see the moment realization hit her. Her eyes softened and her position relaxed, hands coming up to rest on his shoulders.
“Right.” She muttered quietly, almost as if she was speaking to herself. He stood frozen for a few moments, focusing on the quiet sound from the rain tapping on the window.
“Do you want to hear a story Michael?” She asked him after a few beats of silence.
He nodded. Confused about where this was going.
“When I was younger I had this- fascination for someone,” she started, her eyes lightening up with the memory and she took a slow breath before continuing.
“Do you remember Tammy Thompson?” She asked him.
“Isn’t that the girl who was really bad at singing?” He asked with a frown, not knowing what she had to do with anything.
Robin let out a surprised laugh before nodding quickly.
“Yeah, that’s her. In my world, she was so much more than that. Every time she walked into a room I could feel the way the air shifted and when she accidentally brushed past me in the hallway it was as if my heart stopped”
Mike swallowed, the pieces slowly starting to connect in his head.
“Whenever she was in the same room as me it was as if nobody else existed.” Robin said softly, looking at Mike with a knowing glint in her eyes.
“Oh,” Mike breathed, his throat dry as he forced himself to swallow.
The room stilled, the silence filling up the space once again. Mike studied the floor closely, not wanting to look up and meet Robin’s piercing gaze. He cleared his throat.
“So, uh. What happened? With Tammy I mean.” He said hesitantly, almost as if he didn't want to know the answer.
“Oh, nothing,” Robin laughed, breaking the tension in the room.
“Oh.” Mike said with a frown on his face.
Robin studied him with an unreadable expression before sighing and pulling him into an embrace. He went into it with a surprised gasp, hands awkwardly hanging down the side of his body before hesitantly hugging her back.
“You know what?” She said as she pulled back, still holding his arms in a firm grip.
“He doesn’t have to be your Tammy.” She looked at him meaningfully.
And- oh.
“I, you- what?” Mike choked over his words, heat settling over his cheekbones.
“Will.” She said with a sigh, as if she thought that he was being stupid again.
Mike opened his mouth and closed it again, a weight settling in his chest. Before any of them could say anything else, the door to the bathroom was opened and Will came into the room. Mike’s stomach dropped.
“Oh, hi” Will looked between them with a small frown on his face and he hesitated in the doorway.
“Lil Byers!” Robin called with a grin on her face.
“What are you doing here?” Will asked nervously.
“Oh, just normal bathroom stuff” She answered with a mischievous smile on her face.
Mike spluttered.
Will looked questioning between them again as he hesitantly took a few more steps into the room. The floor was creaking with every step he took and the bathroom felt smaller as he entered it. Mike’s heart was racing and just as he was going to make up an excuse to leave, Robin suddenly rushed towards the door.
“Oops, Steve's calling me, I have to go!” She exclaimed before almost throwing herself out the door, stopping only to give Mike a hard glare and a wink.
The door closed sharply after her and Mike shifted awkwardly on the floor.
“Are you okay? You look a bit red.” Will said, worry clear in his voice.
Mike swallowed. “Yeah, I’m fine.”
Will raised his eyebrow at him, clearly not believing him.
“Will, I-” He gulped before continuing. Here goes nothing.
“I heard what you told your mom before and-” he was interrupted.
“Wait, what?” Will stopped in his tracks.
“I’m sorry.” Mike said and looked up at Will. He could see something that looked like a mix between hurt and panic flashing through the other boy’s eyes and he winced.
“Wait, no. I’m not sorry about what you said.” He quickly added before clearing his throat.
“I just. I’ve been a shit friend lately and I’m so sorry about that. I should've noticed that you were struggling but I didn't." His voice cracked.
“Mike, no, it’s not your fault” Will put a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
Mike’s body locked up at the touch, Will’s hand burning through his clothes and making him feel hot all over. Will noticed his reaction and pulled his hand away quickly, hurt flashing through his eyes as he took a step back, turning away from Mike. The distance between them felt wrong immediately.
“Sorry,” Will’s eyes widened and he looked like he was on the verge of tears.
“Wait. Shit.” Mike placed a hand on his shoulder, taking a step closer.
Will turned slowly but kept his gaze at the floor. Mike frowned at him and without thinking took his hands up to cup Will’s cheeks, turning his head so that he was looking at him.
Will’s eyes widened and Mike could feel that his cheeks were starting to heat up under his fingers. He pulled his hands away quickly, still not looking away from Will’s eyes. He could feel tears starting to pool up in his throat and he swallowed them down.
“I’m proud of you Will. I’m so so proud of you.” He managed to get out and Will’s eyes softened.
“Mike,” he whispered.
Mike pulled him into a tight hug. He could smell the faint smell of Will’s aftershave, soft and warm as he pressed his face into the side of his neck. His hands were grasping desperately at his waist, almost as if he was afraid to let him go.
Will was the one to pull away first, a soft smile playing on his face.
“I’m glad that you’re my friend Mike”
Mike stopped at that. The word “friends” making his head spin. His position stiffened as he thought back to his conversation with Robin. He doesn't have to be your Tammy.
“I don’t wanna be your friend,” Mike blurted before he could stop himself.
The room went quiet and Will froze, looking taken aback at the comment. He looked like Mike had slapped him and for a moment he just stared at him with a blank face. Then his expression shuttered and he turned towards the door.
“Fuck. Wait. I’m trying to tell you-” he grabbed Will’s shoulder to slow him down but Will just shrugged him off.
“It’s fine Mike. I get it.” Will snapped, voice tight as he reached for the doorknob “You don’t wanna be friends anymore. Message received"
Mike reached out in panic, caught his arm and spun him back around, their bodies aligning as he backed him into the wall. Their eyes met and Mike was sure that Will could feel his heartbeat with the way they were pressed together.
Mike’s eyes roamed over Will’s face for half a second, looking for any sign of discomfort.
And then their mouths crashed together, teeth knocking clumsily.
His hands came up to Will’s face, thumbs warm against his cheek as their mouths moved together. Will made a quiet, broken sound at the back of his throat that sent a thrill down Mike’s body.
The sound jolted Mike and he pulled back with wide eyes, panic filling his face.
“Shit- I’m so sorry Will. I shouldn't have-.”
He was caught off guard by Will’s finger tangling in his shirt, pulling him back against him with a small whine.
The softness of the second kiss surprised Mike, their mouths moved slower, more thoroughly, as if they were trying to memorize every small sigh, every little tick of each other's bodies. Will moved his hands to Mike’s waist and grabbed softly at it, making Mike sigh into his mouth.
Will pulled back after a moment, his forehead resting against Mike’s and he had a shy, breathless smile on his face as their eyes met.
“You’re crazy,” he said.
“Mhm.” Mike smiled, pulling him into another kiss and whispering against his lips. “Crazy together, huh?”