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The party was in the Wheeler basement, just like old times. Their life had changed in this room years ago, and finally, things seemed to be back to normal. Even though they all knew they would never be the same. Especially Will. He still thought about everything that had happened frequently, from the day he went missing. He had nightmares frequently, sometimes he would just zone out at random times and get lost in his head. None of his friends really knew how it was like being in the upside down all alone, not knowing whether he would live or die or where he even was. But times like these, playing d&d with his best friends, made him feel like a kid again, like none of that ever existed.
Mike was telling a story on what happened to the Mage - El. Will's sister. How she escaped and got her happy ending far away from all the bad memories and people. Somewhere with three waterfalls. He spoke about it like it was the truth, or he believed it was the truth. The rest of the party were crying, listening intently. Will couldn't help but space out for a few minutes, watching Mike as he described it.
Will felt tears roll down his own cheeks. El, Jane, was his own sister. Well, she wasn't entirely but she practically was. He missed her every day, thought of her every day, wore one of her hair ties around his wrist every day.
He hadn't noticed that Mike was finished with his story, snapping Will back into existence. Their eyes met for a brief moment. For a second too long. Before Mike looked away and at their friends who were getting up and placing their books back in their place and going upstairs.
Will got up, slowly walking towards the shelf. He placed his at the end, knowing Mike always put his against it. He knew it probably meant nothing but he still liked looking at their books next to eachother. He turned to walk up the stairs, seeing Mike still at the table. He wondered whether he should go comfort him. He always seemed so sad. Everyone did from time to time, it really wasn't a surprise after everything that happened.
He got up a few steps, halfway there. He really should've just carried on going but it was like something was pulling him back. He turned around, watching Mike walk up to the bookshelf and stand there for a few moments before placing his book at the end, next to Will's. Mike's fingers trembled as he pulled them back, reaching up to wipe his face. The other boy watched with sympathetic eyes. He couldn't just leave his best friend there.
"Mike."
The boy didn't turn around for a few seconds, standing there motionless. Will wondered if he was loud enough, maybe he should try again? But eventually, Mike slowly turned to face him, eyes blinking tears out as he quickly wiped them off and stared at Will on the staircase.
"What?" The crying boy mumbled, voice wavering as he watched the other walk down onto the basement floor again, to get at eye level.
"You know you can talk to me, right?"
"Yeah."
Will took a deep breath, cautious to step closer. He didn't want Mike to get the wrong idea or whatever. He didn't want his friend to think he was taking advantage of this.
"It's just that...you don't really talk to me - well anyone - that much anymore. It's really on and off. And...i know why, it's hard, hard for everyone. But, we're all here, going through something similar. I'm - we're all here for you."
Will finished, looking away, unable to hold eye contact. But neither could. The other boy kept his gaze fixed on the floor, or on his shaking hands. He couldn't figure out what.
"Yeah. Thanks."
Will nodded even though Mike wasn't looking. He was about to turn away and leave before he heard Mike's small whisper.
"Hey, thanks. I don't know what's wrong with me."
Will turned around slowly, blinking at Mike in confusion. He really wasn't expecting that out of all the things that Mike could have said. He instantly shook his head, wanting so badly to reach out and hug him but he stood still.
"What? Nothing is wrong with you. Absolutely nothing."
Mike shook his head at Will, glancing briefly at him. Will swore that he saw Mike's eyes flicker to his lips momentarily. He had seen him do that a few times. It was probably just a habit of his. Probably meant nothing.
"Will..."
Mike whispered again, quieter this time. Will blinked once and Mike's face was closer to him. He opened his mouth then closed it again, not wanting to ruin this moment. He leaned in as well, their eyes closed as their lips were a few centimeters away from each other's.
"MIKE!"
Holly's voice rung out with the sound of the basement door opening, she was quickly making her way down the stairs with her friend's following her. Mike and Will quickly stepped back from each other, both so annoyed and embarrassed. But thankfully it didn't look like the kids payed that much attention to them.
"HEY OUR TURN! YOU'VE BEEN HERE FOR HOURS!" Derek yelled, following the others to the table.
Will smirked at Mike, tugging at his sleeve to subtly tell him they should go up to their own friends. They were probably wondering where the hell they were.
Will was the first to leave, quickly making his way up the stairs and glancing back to see Mike looking at his sister and her friends. He knew what the boy was thinking. They reminded him so much of their own group, when they were children. When nothing bad had happened and they all were happy. Back to the good days.
"Mike, you know Max will be annoyed that we're still down here. Come on."
He mumbled, but left without looking back at his friend, incase Mike wanted to stay down there for however long. He wasn't going to force him.
★★★
The sunset mirrored through the window, tones of violet and amber. Will gazed out at it for a few moments from the hallway and then knocked gently on Mike's door. He should be back at home with his family, he knew Joyce would be worried and questioning him when he got back. He really had to talk with Mike though.
Nancy barely spent time at the Wheeler house anymore since she had her own place and Holly was already asleep. So this was his time to have a conversation with him without getting interrupted.
"Hmm?" He heard Mike from the other side of the door and he took that as his chance to come inside.
"Hey..."
"Will? You said you went home right?"
"Mrs Wheeler let me in, I told her I forgot something."
"Oh."
Will stared at Mike on the bed for a few moments. He then pointed at the spot next to him and waited for the other boy to nod so he could sit down. He sat as far away as possible, not wanting to get too close. Yet, at least.
"So, what did you forget?" Mike straightened up, swinging one leg off the bed and one crossed on the bed.
"Huh? What? Nothing. I just told her that." Will paused, laughing nervously as he looked at how Mike was softly swinging his leg off the bed. "I wanted to talk to you."
"Oh yeah, of course. Sorry, I was being stupid."
"Nah It's fine, I didn't really make that clear. Anyways, I just wanted to apologize for earlier. Like, in the basement. I shouldn't of gotten that close, especially since you were sad." Will mumbled, looking around the room.
"It's fine. I'm fine. I was fine with it. If you are too- I mean I did sort of lean in first. If that's what we're talking about, right?"
Will smiled at him, but not really looking at him. He had spotted something framed on the wall. The painting. The one he made in California. It was on the opposite wall, with nothing else really around it so it stood out. He realized how little times he had actually been in Mike's room since his family moved out and in with Hopper. They were usually in the basement with the others.
For some reason seeing the painting made some warm, fuzzy feeling start in him.
"You kept it? And framed it?" He asked, trying so hard to keep the happiness out of his voice.
"Yeah. Well, it's always been framed but I only put it on the wall after...you know. It was on my desk before that."
Will nodded, knowing what he meant by that. By El. He remembered how he stupidly lied about the painting being commissioned by El.
"Mike, you know that-"
"That it wasn't commissioned by her. Yeah, I know. I've always kind of known. That's part of the reason why I love it so much."
Will froze at that. How the hell did Mike figure it out and just said that with such a straight face? He swore he was dying internally. This was so awkward and embarrassing.
"I- okay well. Well...uhhh...thats cool I guess."
Will was going to say more, something like 'nice that you kept it' or something like that. But he physically couldn't since Mike had pressed his lips against Will's.
He swore his body melted at that, his body just becoming a puddle of a mix of awkward embarrassment and 'omg this is actually happening, Mike is kissing me right now, after years of waiting and waiting and wanting him and omg he's kissing me'. He really was going insane. Was this even real or was he in his bed at home dreaming?
Mike's lips were warm, too warm? He honestly didn't know how it was meant to be. He had never kissed anyone before so he was so glad that Mike was doing most of the work, since he was more experienced. He didn't want to think about that right now. Will finally got the confidence to kiss the other boy back.
After a few moments, they pulled away and Will instantly began panicking. Shit, Mike was literally crying earlier and now he was kissing him. This was wrong? Right? Mike wasn't even into this as far as he was aware. Actually...wasnt it Mike who kissed him and not the other way around?
"Woah." He whispered, not knowing what else to say.
"You really haven't kissed anyone before huh?" Mike laughed, clearly trying not to make this awkward as hell.
They both laughed, then stopped as the door opened and slammed against the wall.
Nancy stood there, clearly annoyed but then her expression softened as she saw Will.
"Sorry to interrupt whatever was happening here. But Mike, remember that money you borrowed a few days ago and didn't pay me back. Well I need that."
She walked over to his desk, opening his draw and taking out some money.
"I'll pay you back the rest tomorrow, I left my purse in Robin's place. This is supposed to be mine anyways."
"Nancy? You're meant to be at your house!"
"I'm going out drinking with friends, but I need to pay for a ride to get there since I don't have my purse. I'm leaving tomorrow."
She rolled her eyes at Mike then closed the door and left, smiling to herself as she did so. She definitely knew what had happened.
"I'm going to kill my family if they keep walking in on us."