Chapter Text
It’s been a year since the Byers moved in with the Wheelers.
It was supposed to be a temporary solution until they could get their house back but it seemed more definitive as time went on.
Will and Jonathan had gotten their stuff comfortable in the basement, even though Will was really the only one occupying it since Jonathan decided to basically move in Nancy’s room with her. It was winter, and cold. Too cold, something that never sat well with Will ever since he was 13.
They had defeated Vecna and the Mindflayer, but it was like he could still feel him sometimes. He knew they were just his nerves acting up though… The door to the basement opened just slightly, making light shine through, before the familiar composition of curly black locks and a too familiar face poked through. Mike. Mike and Will had barely spoken since after California, and after El.
“Dinner’s ready.”
“Thanks, I’ll be up in a second.”
Mike hesitated...and then walked down the steps “Geez, how are you not freezing in here. Did you even turn the heater on at all?”
“It’s not that cold.” Will mumbled
“Not that cold my ass, turn the heater on and come up so by the time you finish eating it’s warmed up in here.”
“Yeah...”
They left the basement with a small hum filling the space.
“So” Karen asked as they ate, always trying to make small talk to ease the tension that had been lingering since the first week. “Do you boys have any plans for the afternoon?”
“I’m going to Family Video to see Robin” Will mumbled between one bite of pizza and the other.
Mike scoffed under his breath, clearly holding something back. Will & Robin had been super close lately and Mike DEFINITELY noticed.
“Again? You went yesterday”
“So?” Will grimaced a bit at how harsh it sounded but it was a correct description of how he was feeling. Mike had basically rejected him on the radio tower “Friends? no thanks… Best Friends”. For a moment, Will had thought about jumping off then and there but wisely decided against it, what matters is Mike rejected him and now he was acting… Jealous? He doesn't GET to be jealous after that.
“So it’s weird, Robin’s so much older than you.” Mike was picking at his pizza toppings as he spoke.
Will simply rolled his eyes and left early in the afternoon.
After ten minutes of pedaling he reached Family Video and left his bike out in the yard, he entered with the little bell above the door jingling, stating his arrival
“BABY BYERS!” Robin popped up from behind the counter “How are you today”
Will chuckled “I’m okay Rockin’ Robin. How are you? I heard you and Vickie broke up..?”
Robin grimaced “Yeeah but it’s fine it was mutual, we just wanted different things.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Yeah sorry your love life’s tragic.” Steve commented, popping up from the back room. Robin rolled her eyes “ANYWAY Baby Byers, tell me everything.”
“There’s nothing to tell” he sat down on a bean bag in the corner “Me and Mike still aren’t talking but he’s acting weird, somehow. He got all mad that I was coming here again for some reason. Said something about me having visited yesterday and that it was weird cause you’re old.”
“I AM NOT OLD.”
Steve was dying laughing, leaving Will a little embarrassed “Yeah I know sorry- he’s just been being a total jerk lately and he keeps rolling his eyes whenever I mention you or coming here–”
“So Wheeler is jealous of Robin?”
Both Will and Robin look at Steve, then each other. “What?” they say in unison
“No! no way. He’s probably jealous that I don’t just mope around looking for his attention anymore. There’s no reason he should be jealous about Robin”
Will looked around at her and Steve, trying to get his point through.
“Ehh I don’t know Baby B. He didn’t really know about me and Vickie so it’s plausible he thinks I’m out to get you, you’re here every day.”
“And he certainly doesn’t think you’re here for me.” Steve mentioned, while organizing some DVDs.
Will groaned and laid down on his back on the bean bag “Why would he be jealous though? he isn’t— like us.” he said, looking at Robin
“Maybe he just doesn’t know it yet?”
“He dated Jane.”
“So? he could be Bisexual.”
They spent two hours talking, Robin & Steve acting as therapists to Will until it was getting dark and he had to go home.
Home… right.
He didn’t want to face Mike. Not after the thoughts that Robin instilled in his head.
Will entered the house and got greeted by a very angry Mike.
“You were gone too long.”
“...It’s only 5pm Mike.”
“So? We had a campaign with the others at 4.”
“Ah right. Sorry Robin and I—” he interrupted himself when he saw how Mike’s jaw tightened at the mere mention of Robin’s name
“Nevermind.” Mike stormed off to his room, leaving Will at the front door.
There was no doubt now. That was definitely jealousy.