Work Text:
"Ten Mississippi, nine Mississippi.." Suddenly, this was the moment Will fled from everyone as they counted down from ten in unison.
The boys were all playing Sardines, accompanied by Jonathan and Nancy just in case someone gets hurt. They would never admit it themselves, but the boys knew that the real reason was because they wanted to have fun and they enjoyed the boys' company.
This was the second round. In the first round, Will was the last to find Dustin when he was hiding upstairs in a hidden away closet no one ever uses at the Wheeler house.
So, Will was the designated hider for round two.
He decided it was best to hide in the Wheeler dining room right under the long table. The family had recently gotten a new red cloth that covers the table all the way down with just a few inches off the ground. This made it easy for Will to not be seen.
Typically, Will is a master at sardines. He always finds the person hiding first— or second, but that barely happens.
Not to sound arrogant or whatever, but he's basically the best at the game. It always takes the longest time for the others to find him, sometimes it takes up to fifteen minutes before Mike or Lucas finds him! Dustin always takes forever, he's pretty bad at the game. Maybe it's because Will is pretty small, it helps him fit into tight spaces that the others may not be able to squeeze into.
He's also extremely quiet. The others tend to laugh out loud while hiding. Apparently that's why everyone had found Dustin so easily.
His quietness most likely comes from the fact that his...dad, Lonnie, would always get mad when someone was too loud at home. Not all the time was he home, but when he was, it was as silent as a mouse. Unless he started drinking, then it would get loud. It scared him to speak ever, really. When he spoke, it only caused more problems.
But during a time like this— having fun with his friends— Will wasn't scared to be quiet. He quite enjoyed it, the thrill. His friends never made it seem like him being loud was a problem. He appreciated them for that.
But, now, while playing sardines, Will knew he couldn't be talking, and not because his dad was home. It was because he didn't want to be found!
They had a time limit, you see. If the hider was able to last twenty minutes without everyone finding them, then they win the round. It sounds pretty tricky seeing as though there aren't many good places to hide in the Wheeler house, especially considering how many times they’ve played this game before, but Will thinks he's got this in the bag.
Just as Will finishes his last thought, footsteps can be heard scattering in different directions and voices bouncing off the walls— indicating the start of the game.
Will was currently pushed up against the leg of the table, the cloth brushed against his left knee as he shifted slightly as to not let it sway.
From beneath the table, the world looked different. Shadows stretched across the carpet as Will sees someone skidding toward the dining room. Will had to press a hand over his mouth to stop himself from laughing. Dustin, probably. Always too loud. Always too obvious.
Minutes ticked by. Ten, maybe twelve. Then, footsteps slowed near the dining room.
Will immediately knew who it was before he even saw the shoes. Mike never rushed when he was actually thinking. The steps stopped in front of the table, and Will squeezed his eyes shut.
The red cloth lifted just an inch.
And suddenly, Will wasn’t alone under the table anymore.
He didn’t move, didn’t blink, barely breathed, and suddenly, he saw Mike crouching down.
Will saw his eyes first, dark and sharp even in the dim light. Will’s fingers curled into his palms.
Will could see Mike’s gaze flick away for a second behind him before turning back toward Will. And before Will could process what was happening, Mike ducked his head and slid underneath too, the cloth falling back into place behind him.
Will nearly made a sound.
Mike’s shoulder brushed against his, warm and solid, and Will froze completely. They were way closer than necessary. Close enough that Will could hear Mike breathing. Close enough that when Mike leaned in, his whisper tickled Will’s ear.
“Move over,” Mike murmured. “Lucas is literally checking every room.”
What Mike said definitely confused Will. But it isn’t like he’s going to question it. Mike never really made sense, and that’s okay.
Will scooted an inch to the side and Mike shifted too, their knees bumping softly. For a second, neither of them spoke.
Mike glanced at Will, eyes crinkling slightly like he was holding back a laugh. Will raised his eyebrows at him.
A shadow passed by the table. Someone stopped just on the other side of the cloth. Will’s breath caught. Mike’s hand shot out, gripping Will’s sleeve tightly.
“Guys?” Dustin’s voice called. “Why is it so quiet in here?”
Will felt Mike tense beside him, their shoulders touching fully now. Mike leaned closer now, whispering, “Don’t. Move.”
They stayed like that, frozen, listening as Dustin muttered something and wandered off again. The moment stretched, then snapped.
Mike let out a quiet laugh, covering his mouth with his hand. Will did the same, shaking silently, both trying to not give themselves away.
“You’re going to get us caught,” Will whispered, but he was smiling.
“Worth it,” Mike whispered back.
A sudden voice cuts through like a jumpscare.
“Found you.”
The tablecloth flew up, flooding the space with light. Will barely had time to gasp before Lucas dropped to his knees, grinning like he’d just won the lottery.
“I knew it,” Lucas said triumphantly. “It was way too quiet.”
Before Will had time to react, Lucas crawled under the table, wedging himself in across from them.
“Dude,” Mike hissed. “You’re supposed to be quiet.”
Lucas ignored him. “You’re telling me you both fit under here the whole time and nobody noticed? No way you two weren’t talking the whole time before I got here and noticed how quiet it was.”
Before either boy could respond, the cloth lifted again.
Dustin dove under the table with absolutely zero stealth, knocking his elbow against the table leg and letting out a loud “OW,” which definitely echoed through the dining room. Will clapped a hand over Dustin’s mouth, Mike replaced Will’s hand with his own, and Lucas pressed his face into his sleeve, shoulders shaking with silent laughter.
“Guys, guys,” Dustin removes Mike’s— now wet with saliva— hand and whispers far too loudly. “We’re going to get caught.”
“You already got us caught.” Lucas shot back.
The table shook as someone else approached.
Nancy crouched down, peeking under the cloth with an amused smile toward Dustin. “I leave you alone for five minutes and you go ahead and find them without me.”
Dustin shrugs in response.
Jonathan pops up not long after Nancy, declaring the game as over.
Will felt his face heat up as he laughed quietly, surrounded on all sides now. The heat was getting to him.
“You still win,” Mike whispered to Will, nudging him with his shoulder. “You lasted, like, forever.”
Will smiled, soft and real, the kind he didn’t realize he was making. Under the table, cramped and chaotic and warm, he felt lighter than he had in a long time.
Nancy scoots out from under the table and stands up. “Alright, you monsters. Game over. Jonathan’s turn to hide.”
Jonathan groans as Lucas pats him on the back in sympathy.
As they all scrambled out from under the table, laughing and tripping over each other, Will lingered just a second longer. Mike glanced at him, offering a quick grin before following the others.
Will stayed there, just long enough to breathe.
This round? Yeah.
He definitely won.