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“I don’t even think I like her like that, you guys, seriously.” Will’s voice was exasperated, but he was smiling and laughing along, too.
“But you’re gonna go out with her?”
“Yes, Dustin, but only because it would’ve been rude to say no.”
“Wouldn’t know, I’ve never had a girl ask me out, but, ya know, good for you.”
“Okay well at least you’ve all had girlfriends before! I’ve never even kissed anyone, I don’t wanna do this. Besides, it’s not really the time for this, is it? We should focus on Vecna.”
Mike notices Will seems a bit embarrassed to say it, even though these are his friends and they know him. He supposes Will could’ve made someone up, saying he had his first kiss in California just to avoid this whole scene, but, well, friends don’t lie.
They’re sitting in Mike’s basement, mid-apocalypse, having the closest thing to a normal night that they can. They’d stolen a bottle of vodka from upstairs and passed it around a few times, until a buzz settled over the room. Voices got louder, things became funnier. And why shouldn’t they? There was no crawl tonight, it was just the four of them, trying to remember what it was like to talk about normal things. Like Ashley, the girl who’d asked out Will at the donation center today during volunteering.
Will sits silently while Dustin, Lucas and Mike all talk at once.
“It’s easy, Will, you just–”
“You just gotta get it overwith–”
“Trust me, it’s nothing to get worked up over. It’s not even that great.”
Lucas and Dustin turned, wide eyed, to look at Mike. Lucas said “Not that great?”
Dustin chimed in, “Are you serious, Wheeler?”
Mike’s embarrassed for a moment, he’s not sure how all the attention suddenly turned to him. “I mean, it’s fine, or whatever, it’s just not, like, the greatest thing in the world.”
Will looks at him, searching his face in a way that brings a pink flush to Mike’s cheeks. The others are protesting, talking over one another, before Mike cuts back in.
“Okay maybe with the right person it would’ve been different! And maybe I was also trying to make it less scary for Will, guys. Leave me alone.”
“I thought you were happy about the breakup, Mike? Or are these your true feelings of bitterness coming out?”
“Shut up, Dustin. I’m not just saying that because we broke up. Kissing’s just not as great as everyone says.”
Will stepped in, ending this madness once and for all. “Okay, guys, forget it. I just wish I got this over with a long time ago and now I’m super nervous, but I’m still gonna go on the date and, whatever, we’ll see. Can we talk about something else?” He looked at Mike when he said this, and Mike nodded his thanks. Will could always read him better than everyone, and had, as usual, swooped in to Mike’s rescue.
After a few more hours of hanging out, Lucas and Dustin left, Dustin promising to sleep at Lucas’ so he wouldn't be out alone after the drinking. Even so, Mike watched them walk across the lawn to Lucas’ and didn’t retreat until he saw the front door close safely behind them.
When he came back to the basement, Will had already brushed his teeth and changed into a loose t-shirt and sweats for sleeping. He was throwing on a sweatshirt when Mike came in.
“Do you still get too cold down here?”
“Don’t worry about me, Mike. I’m good.” He spoke with a warm, slightly slurred tone.
Mike moved over to the sofa and sat down. “So… Ashley, huh?”
Will’s smile was tight, and didn’t quite reach his eyes. “I guess, but I think I’d rather not. I mean, I will, though. I’m just nervous.”
“‘Cause you’ve never kissed anyone?”
“I guess that’s part of it. I don’t know, Mike. It’s stressful. I mean, how old were you when you first kissed El? You probably weren’t thinking too hard about it, but now it feels almost like we’re too old, and like it's super embarrassing if I don’t know what to do. Like, where do you even put your hands? And what if I’m not into it, and she can tell that I’m–” Will’s relaxed tone had sped up, panic visible in the shaking beneath his words. His eyes are wild, like this is truly haunting him.
Mike sits up on the couch, looking at Will. He couldn’t solve all of Will’s anxieties, but he could answer one of his questions. “You put them like this” he says and holds his hands up in the air around a fake body.
“I don’t even know what you’re doing, Mike. Is that supposed to be a head, or–”
“Okay, c’mere then.”
Will immediately freezes, and Mike worries he’s made him uncomfortable. “I mean, nevermind.”
“No, it’s okay.” Will walks over to the couch, and Mike stands in front of him.
“Okay, I mean, there’s a lot you can do with your hands, but the easiest is probably like this.”
Mike reaches out and places his hand on the back of Will’s neck. They’re still pretty far apart, so he takes a step closer, and places his other hand in the small of Will’s back. “This is good, ‘cause you can pull her in like this…” he says and demonstrates by putting pressure on Will’s back, pulling until the gap between them reduces to mere inches.
Will’s breathing heavily, and refusing to look Mike in the eyes, but Mike doesn’t understand why until he pulls Will close enough to feel his breath. Will just brushed his teeth, and through the infinitesimal gap between their mouths, Mike can taste the toothpaste on his breath. His breath catches in his throat, and he can feel his blood rushing to his ears. Will has been looking at the floor this whole time, but now looks up, meeting Mike’s eyes, and Mike feels the ground drop out from beneath him so that he’s in a complete free fall.
Will’s not stepping away, and Mike knows he should, but for some reason that he’s not ready to unpack right now, he can’t. He tells himself it’s just the alcohol, though he knows that’s only a small part of it. He doesn’t want to break this moment.
The air feels charged, pulsing with electricity, like lightning’s about to strike. The basement is completely quiet except for the sounds of their breathing.
When Mike speaks, his voice is low, not quite a whisper, but almost. “You can also–” He takes the hand around the back of Will’s neck and threads his fingers up into Will’s hair, giving the strands a light tug. Will continues to look at Mike, but leans his head slightly into Mike’s touch. The hand at Will’s back traces a finger up and down his spine, causing him to give an involuntary shudder.
Will’s voice is a whisper that tickles Mike’s lips as he asks “What else?”
He lets his hands travel up the length of Will’s arms before he slides both of his hands down to rest on either side of Will’s waist. “There’s this, and you can–” he digs his fingers into Will’s waist, and he hears Will exhale deeply. Mike runs his hands up Will’s sides until his fingers splay over his ribcage, lingering there before they trail back down his sides, landing on his hips. He slips his thumbs beneath the hem of Will’s t-shirt and touches the bare skin there. Will takes a sharp inhale.
“Or this,” Mike places his hands on either side of Will’s neck, running fingers across his jaw and cheeks, before letting his thumb drag across Will’s bottom lip. He pulls it slightly, and feels like he’s received an electric shock. He’s seized by the desire to replace his thumb with his mouth.
Mike uses one finger to tilt Will’s chin upwards until their mouths are nearly touching again. “This is a good one, too.”
No one moves. Mike’s gaze flits between Will’s eyes and his lips, and Will does the same. He stares down at the curve of Will’s mouth and wonders how he would react if he just kissed him right then and there.
“Thanks, that’s helpful.” Will’s words tickle Mike’s lips.
Mike pulls away before he does something stupid. He steps back, clearing his throat and running a hand through his hair.
Will turns away, trying to hide the smile playing across his lips, and takes another swig of vodka straight from the bottle before holding it out to Mike.
Mike is still standing rooted to the spot. His hands feel cold, starved of Will’s body heat, a heat that they’re itching to get back to. If he hadn’t stepped back, how long would Will have let Mike run his hands all over his body? And would Mike have done more?
He takes the bottle and takes a sip, grimacing before putting it down.
What just happened? Why was he dying to get his hands back on Will? Was it the alcohol? Mike supposes that must be it, and that makes him feel safe. Weird stuff happens a lot when you’re drunk, and it doesn’t have to mean anything. He’s never touched Will like that when they were sober.
After a beat, he realizes he should say something. “Oh, yeah. You’re welcome. Um, if you’re really that nervous–I thought– nevermind.” He should’ve kept his mouth shut, because the words that are trying to force their way out of his mouth should not be spoken. It’s a terrible idea, really.
“What? You can’t do that, tell me!” Is Mike losing it, or is Will looking…flustered.
“It’s stupid, it doesn’t matter.”
“Mike, tell me. It’s not stupid.”
Mike takes a deep breath, and the words come tumbling out faster than he intends. “I just was thinking I could help you practice, you know, like, we could– and then it wouldn’t be your first kiss with someone else that you’re not comfortable with.”
Will stares incredulously, and then starts laughing. Whereas Mike is panicking, he seems to find this whole situation very amusing. “You wanna help me by kissing me? Now? When we’re drunk?”
“I mean, you’ll probably be less nervous with being drunk anyway…” Mike’s starting to get angry, because Will is still laughing like what Mike said was the funniest thing he’d ever heard.
“Didn’t you just basically say you hate kissing?” More laughter still.
“I didn’t say I hated it! I just said it’s not as amazing as everyone seems to think it is. But fine, whatever, it was just an offer. Clearly, you think it’s a joke, so–”
Will stops laughing, though he’s still smiling, his voice is dead serious, an octave lower than usual. “Alright, Wheeler, lay it on me.”
“Seriously?” Mike’s not sure what he expected, but it wasn’t for Will to say yes and for Mike’s stomach to suddenly be doing backflips at the news. What was going on with him?
And what was going on with Will? He never calls Mike by his last name. And why was the idea of Mike kissing him so funny? Hadn’t he felt everything Mike had just felt? How could he be so lighthearted about this now?
It didn’t really matter, though, because Mike already offered, and now it’d be weird to revoke the offer. And plus, he didn’t really want to.
“Go for it, show me what I’ve been missing out on,” Will said, as he raised his eyebrows at Mike, almost in a dare. He was still grinning like this was all a joke. Was it? Was he joking? Running his hands over Will’s body hadn’t felt like a joke. How was Will acting like this whole thing was amusing, when Mike’s entire body was vibrating?
He had a sudden desire to wipe the amused expression off Will’s face.
He crossed the room in three long strides, landing right in front of Will. Will’s eyes were on his, slightly hooded, glassy, and he was still smiling. Mike asked him, “Are you sure about this?”
“Stop being dramatic, Mike. Either do it or don’t.” The alcohol certainly seemed to be giving him courage Mike didn’t feel. And he was still grinning, a laugh trapped right behind his lips.
Mike stepped forward until their bodies were pressed against each other, threading his hands up into the hair at the back of Will’s neck. His other hand held Will’s face, running a thumb across his cheek. The laughter died in Will’s throat as Mike’s thumb dragged across his lips. He looked up into Mike’s eyes, and then down at his lips, licking his own, staggered breaths filling the small space between them.
He waited for Will to tell him to stop, that he’d only been joking, that he found the whole thing hilarious, but he didn’t.
Instead, after almost a full minute like this, Will said “Well?”
Mike leaned in, closing the gap between them slowly, until he felt the heat of Will’s lips between his own. A shudder started at the base of his spine, vibrating out, as several volcanic eruptions took place in his chest and stomach. Will stood there for a moment, arms still at his side, before he finally responded, pressing back.
With a great effort, Mike pulled away.
A small smile was playing on Will’s lips. Mike pressed his fingers to his mouth, still feeling the heat Will left behind, shocked that they’d actually just done that. He waited for Will to say something, but he didn’t.
Eventually, Mike couldn’t handle the silence. “So, anyway, yeah. Um, what did you think?” Mike had dropped his hands, but they were still standing pretty close.
“Um, yeah. It was cool. I kinda get what you were saying earlier. I mean, it’s great, but a little underwhelming. Like, that’s it?”
That’s it? What?
Even though Will was agreeing with his own assertions, it made Mike incredibly indignant. He’d said that about kissing, sure, but he’d only ever kissed El. He’d hardly classify kissing Will as ‘underwhelming.’ Was he saying Mike was a bad kisser?
“Well, that’s not actually all it is. But I was going easy on you, you know, cause it was your first kiss.”
Will’s grin returned to his face. “Oh, well in that case, maybe I’ll feel differently when it’s someone who isn’t going easy on me.”
“Do–do you want me to–?”
“I mean, you don’t have to. I guess it’d be good to practice, but if you hate doing it anyway I don’t wanna make you.” Will’s voice sounded so casual, like they were discussing what movie to watch, and Mike was in utter disbelief. Will was supposed to be the one with no experience, how was he so calm? And what the fuck was so funny?
“I never said I hated it!” Mike was flustered, frenzied, and the alcohol in his system wasn’t helping. He felt wired, like a bomb about to be set off, and Will’s calm, cool and collected attitude was only driving him crazier.
What the hell was going on with Mike? He had no idea, only that every word out of Will’s mouth made him want to prove him wrong, to kiss him in a way that’s anything but underwhelming, to wipe the smirk off his face with his own mouth. His desire was growing, spreading, until kissing Will was all he could think about, until he thought he might explode if he didn’t do it soon, and do it right,leaving Will speechless. This must also be an effect of the alcohol.
He stepped towards Will, who took a step back. He was still grinning at Mike, almost as if he had him exactly where he wanted him. Was he enjoying Mike’s turmoil?
“I was just trying to make sure the first kiss you had was nice, Will. Now you’re being all smug.” Mike took another step forward, and Will took another step back. Why was he making this so agonizingly difficult?
“I’m not being smug, Mike.” He was laughing again. “I just didn’t expect you to treat me like I’m so fragile, that’s all.”
Mike stepped forward again, and Will took a final step backwards before his back hit the concrete wall of the basement. Another step forward, halving the distance between them.
He wanted to yell at Will, who was being so infuriating, and smug, and who was still fucking laughing. Was he trying to make Mike angry on purpose, or did he just truly not see the effect of his words as Mike’s hands balled into fists?
“Fine. If you’re sure. Um, are you? Sure?” Mike didn’t want to be wrong, didn’t want to do more than Will was ready for, more than he was expecting.
At this, Will rolled his eyes. Anger flushed in Mike, as well as something else, something that had to do with the proximity he and Will were in. Desire, an intense desire for Will.
If Will was going to treat this like a joke, Mike would have the last laugh.
He pressed Will’s body into the wall with his own, so that almost every inch of them was touching. The smug grin finally fell off Will’s face, and he swallowed hard, looking at Mike’s mouth. Mike nearly pulled back, not knowing if this was Will changing his mind, when Will’s fingers threaded into the hair on the back of Mike’s neck.
So he had taught him something.
Mike stood, paralyzed with the weight of what he was about to do, and how badly he wanted to do it. Surely that meant something that he’d have to figure out later. When he didn’t move, Will’s grin returned, and he raised a single eyebrow at Mike. Amused again.
Okay, fuck it.
Mike surged forward and pressed his lips to the grin on Will’s face, letting his hands drop to Will’s hips, pulling him in by his belt loops, while pressing him into the wall. He moved his mouth against Will’s, and was surprised that Will almost perfectly mirrored every movement, as if he could read his mind. Shockwave after shockwave ripped through Mike’s body, electricity coursing through his veins, buzzing in his ears, dizzy with the heat of Will’s mouth and his hands.
Mike’s hands were everywhere, lacing into Will’s hair, feeling his heart beating hard and fast in his chest, dropping to his sides. Will’s hands were on Mike’s waist, and his grip tensed as Mike moved his mouth faster, dragging his tongue across Will’s lips so that his mouth fell open.
Will’s hands slipped down to the hem of Mike’s shirt, and his fingers slipped underneath to brush across bare skin. Goosebumps erupted up Mike’s arms as he let out a small noise from the back of his throat. Will slid his hands under Mike’s shirt, running up his sides. And suddenly it was Will’s hands, Will’s tongue, Will’s hair tickling his forehead, Will’s confidence, and it was all too much. Mike was supposed to be showing him; when had Will gained the upper hand?
Will pulled back, and Mike found himself chasing after his lips. Will caught this, and grinned again. How the hell was he so calm, so smug about this?
Mike dropped his head until his mouth was on the soft, warm skin of Will’s neck. Will’s hand shot up to Mike’s hair as he let out a soft groan. Though he couldn’t see his face, he knew Will wasn’t grinning anymore. Will’s chest was heaving with the effort of taking deep, steadying breaths, but he wasn’t telling Mike to stop.
Mike knew he was getting carried away, but couldn’t think too hard about it, so caught up in the moment. He moved his mouth to Will’s ear, giving it a soft nibble, before tilting Will’s chin back towards him and kissing him again, more deeply. Will’s hands ran the length of Mike’s torso, and Mike trapped his bottom lip between his, gently grazing it with his teeth. Will pulled back momentarily, looking at Mike.
His lips were redder than usual and wet, his hair was wild, and he was breathing heavily.
Mike could only take in how incredibly attractive he looked for a moment before Will’s mouth collided with his with such force that Mike was sure it would be sore tomorrow, but he didn’t care. He let out an involuntary groan as Will pushed off from the wall, and Mike staggered, but Will’s hands steadied him. He pressed forward until the back of Mike’s knees hit the couch, and he sank into it, pulling Will down until his weight was crushing him. Mike’s hands slipped under Will’s shirt and raked across his abdomen, and all of the sudden, without realizing what he was doing, he was pulling the shirt up, over Will’s head. And Will was letting him.
A car door slammed outside, close enough that it must be coming from the Wheeler’s driveway. Will’s shirt was halfway off, and he tugged it back down as they sprang apart, catapulting to opposite sides of the couch. Of course, no one was going to come in the basement door, since this was Will’s room now and that would be rude, but the sound had broken whatever spell had fallen over them. It was a reminder that, despite feeling like they were the only two people on earth, they weren’t even alone in this house. They’d been so reckless.
What had they done? And… what had they been about to do?
“Um, I’m gonna…” Mike gestured for the stairs, and Will nodded. They were both still struggling to catch their breath. Mike couldn’t look at Will as he swept out of the basement.
__________________________________
The clock on his bedside table read 4:07 AM. Great, so he’d been up either pacing in his room or laying in his bed staring at the ceiling all night. He’d come up here hours ago, but the buzzing in his ears and the vibrating in his limbs would not let him forget what he’d just done. There was no way he’d sleep.
He’d kissed his best friend, and honestly, kissing is putting it very mildly. They’d gotten so carried away. How far would they have taken it if not for the door slamming, bringing them back to the present?
Mike remembers the feeling of the couch on the back of his knees, the knowledge of the line they were crossing. He could’ve resisted, but he’d fallen and pulled Will with him, knowing full well that they were venturing into territory that was new for both of them. He’d never, ever kissed El like that.
Not for lack of trying, either. He’d tried to insert some passion into their kisses, like he’d seen on TV, but he just never felt like it was right. He’d meant what he said before; up until a few hours ago he thought he just wasn’t a big fan of kissing in general. Now, on the other hand…
A shiver ran up his spine every time he thought about Will’s lips on his, Will’s tongue, Will’s hands running through his hair and across his body. All he wanted to do was march back into the basement and kiss him again and again and probably do nothing else for the rest of his life.
What did that mean for him? And what did it mean for Will? Mike didn’t want to make any presumptions, but Will seemed to enjoy it as much as he did.
Did this mean Mike liked boys? It was hard to say because this was Will. They’d always been different, their friendship had always been more intense, more heightened than his friendships with the rest of the party.
Unless Will was more drunk than he was. Mike hadn’t been sober, but he was certainly in control of himself, albeit a little loose and less worried about having to answer for his actions tomorrow.
What did this mean? What the fuck should he do? He could sit here and muse in circles for an endless amount of time. It’d already been hours.
He stood, deciding to take a shower, quietly as he could, just for something to do. As he was walking back to his room, a towel thrown around his waist, he heard the tinkling of glass in the kitchen.
Was Will awake?
Mike hurried to dress, throwing on clothes and an extra sweatshirt since the basement was freezing, and tiptoed down the stairs. He pulled open the basement door and whispered “Will? Are you up?”
Silence. Maybe it had been Holly in the kitchen. Mike was about to retreat when he heard Will answer. “Mike?”
Mike slipped onto the stairs and shut the door behind him. The basement was dark, but Will had turned on the lamp, although the bulb was clearly dying and Mike could still barely see anything.
“Can I, um, can I come down?”
“Yeah.” He tried to figure out what his voice sounded like, nervous? Apprehensive? Angry? But he couldn’t pinpoint it. He slipped down the stairs and found himself face to face with Will.
And oh, shit. He hadn’t planned this out. He should've waited, put some time between their earlier encounter and seeing him again because holy shit, all Mike wanted to do was kiss him again. He looked so attractive, somehow his lips were still red from earlier, and Mike wondered if his looked the same.
Then he realized he’d just come down the stairs and stared at Will’s mouth for, like, two full minutes without saying anything. Fuck.
He forced his eyes to meet Will’s, his guilty expression turning to anger when he saw that Will was fucking grinning again.
“What the fuck is so funny, Will?” He felt a smile form on his own lips, and he couldn’t help it, Will was laughing, and his laughter was so contagious. Mike doubled over, stumbling until he fell onto the couch next to Will. It was all too much.
At least the tension was broken.
Will’s laughter subsided, and he eventually said “Is there something you wanted?” He was still smiling.
Mike’s laughter stopped, too. “I mean, I don’t know. I think so.”
“And what might that be?” Will raised his eyebrows and ran his tongue across his lips, and–oh my god. He was flirting. This whole time, he’d been flirting, and Mike was flirting back, but not well, because he’d had no idea what he was doing.
“Are you enjoying yourself over there?” Mike asked, incredulous.
“I actually really am, thanks for asking.”
“I’m so glad this whole thing is so amusing for you when I’m having a complete crisis upstairs–” Mike was smiling, but he saw the grin slide off Will’s face.
“I’m sorry, you’re right. This isn’t funny. Are you– are you okay, Mike?” Will looked guilty, and started fidgeting with the hem of his shirt.
“I don’t know, honestly. Are you?”
“I mean,” Will exhaled. “I’ve known for a while. I just wasn’t ready to tell you guys yet. But I didn’t need to kiss anyone to know I don’t, um, that I don’t like girls.”
Mike nodded. “Is there–is there someone you do like?”
Will’s smile was soft, vulnerable, genuine. “Yeah, Mike. But listen, if you were just drunk, or you don’t know what came over you, or you’re not interested or not ready, that’s fine, okay. I never expected any of this, all I ever hoped for was you to, you know, accept me, and to keep being my best friend.”
“I don’t think I want that.” Mike paused, because he was trying to find the right words, but Will’s face fell, and Mike realized what it must’ve sounded like. He scooted down the couch until he was sitting close to Will, and he held his face in his hand. “I mean, I do. I always wanna be your best friend. But I also don’t know if I can go back, after what happened.”
Will nodded, gaze on the floor. “I understand.”
Oh my god, Mike was fucking this up so spectacularly. “No, I mean– fuck, okay, I think–I think I wanna be more than just your best friend. Only, I haven’t thought any of this out and honestly, Will, I’m scared. I don’t really know what this means or how to do any of this. I’ve always felt differently about you than the others, but I didn’t get it until now. And now I really, really just wanna–”
Mike leans forward and presses their lips together, just for a moment, just to get his point across, before pulling back. Will sighs, pushing a wet strand of hair out of Mike’s eyes. “Yeah?”
“Yeah, Will. I think, if you’re willing to figure it out together, yeah. And I’d really, really love for you to cancel that date.”
Will laughs, and reaches out to press his thumb into Mike’s lips. “But, then, I won’t need to practice anymore. So what will your excuse be?”
Mike leans forward, pressing a soft kiss into Will’s forehead before kissing him again, slow and gentle. “No excuse, I just want to. I just–I just want you.”
And then Will’s kissing him, and his hands are on Mike’s body, and maybe there are a million things he needs to worry about, and probably there are a lot of reasons why this isn’t a good idea, but the only thing he cares about is Will, and his heat, and his gentle hands, and his soft, warm lips.
Everything else is a problem for tomorrow.