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On Thursdays, the cafeteria served Salisbury steak and mashed potatoes, Will’s favorite.
Life in Hawkins had sucked for them the past few years. The party had learned to celebrate the little things: movie nights in the Wheeler basement, playing Twister at the Squawk after another crawl, eating through Steve’s stockpile of Peanut Butter Boppers.
The Byers were currently staying at the Wheeler house. Their old home had been sold soon after they left Hawkins, and the ‘earthquake’ and heavy military presence had squashed any hope at finding a rental in the near future.
Mike had noticed Will’s good mood at the breakfast table . He’d been pretty upbeat on their bike ride into school. Watching him out of the corner of his eye, he had spotted him mouthing along to some top 40 song playing on the radio. When they rolled up to the bike rack, Will had grinned at him over his shoulder.
“See you at lunch!”
With Will coming back from Lenora ahead of Hawkins’ academic curve, they didn’t share many classes this year. The cafeteria was one of the only places on campus Mike could have eyes on him before they met again at 3:15 and pedaled home.
Will was a creature of habit. Predictably punctual.
After the fall of ‘83, Mike had found a deep appreciation in knowing just where Will was at all times. When things with El fell apart, the shape of his days changed. Somewhere in that quiet rearranging, keeping track of Will filled the empty space.
All of those facts were the reason for Mike’s current uneasiness.
They were ten minutes into lunch, and the seat across from him remained empty. The table felt unbalanced, like someone had shifted the world an inch to the left. His knee bounced under the table before he realized he was doing it.
Mike checked the clock on the cafeteria wall, then the empty chair again. “Hey Dustin, was Will still in the art room when you left history?” he asked, trying and failing to hide the nervous tilt in his voice.
Dustin paused, frowning at the gravy dripping from his plastic spork onto the pile of green beans below. Asking him anything these days usually ended in a headache.
He’d been a real self pitying asshole before the beginning of the school year, and spending every weekday getting harassed by the football team sure hadn't done anything to help.
“No, yeah, I saw him,” Dustin said, flatly, nudging his tray closer. “He was coming out of the art room when I was heading this way. I think he was kinda in a rush. Didn’t say anything. Just kept going. Maybe he forgot his sketchbook or something?”
Grabbing at his carton of milk, he worked on jabbing his straw into the perforated hole, groaning loudly when he missed.
Lucas shifted forward, the loud thunk of Dustin's hand against the table pulling his attention in. “Why the fuck would he not have his sketchbook?” He said, eyebrows pulling together, “He was leaving art class, dipshit.”
Lucas’s eyes looked to the empty chair across from Mike, then scanned the tables around them. He leaned back, working his jaw slowly, side to side
“I don’t know man, he’s been flighty all week!” Dustin groaned. “He probably just went to the bathroom or something. I mean, it’s Salisbury steak day. He’s not skipping Salisbury steak-”
Dustin trailed off, straw finally punching through the carton with a dull pop.
The table went quiet.
Mike looked at Lucas. Lucas looked at Dustin. Dustin was already looking back at him.
“Shit, shit, shit!” Mike stumbled up out of his chair, hightailing it out of the cafeteria, Lucas and Dustin right on his heels.
***
The door shut behind them with a hollow thud. The sound was too loud in the empty corridor, and the combination of green and orange on the walls didn’t help the sick feeling in Mike's stomach.
He looked around instinctively, half-expecting Will to just appear around a corner. It wouldn't be the first time he overreacted to a situation regarding Will.
Dustin was the first to break the uncomfortable silence, voice pitched low even in the abandoned space. “You don’t think this is, like… a Vecna thing, do you?” He edged in closer to Lucas, sneakers squeaking against the linoleum floor.
Lucas shook his head. “I don't think so, man.” His eyes took in the Tiger mural on the wall in front of them. “The basketball table was basically empty. That's not a coincidence.” The lack of students attending Hawkins this year made it pretty easy to notice when people were missing.
“I don’t know,“ Dustin said, worry creeping into his voice. “It’s been a minute since Will had the goosies, but…” He trailed off, lips pressing together like he couldn’t quite figure out how to finish the thought.
The hall was frustratingly empty, too exposed. Their voices bounced off the walls, buzzing in Mike’s skull.
“Guys,” he snapped, a bit sharper than he meant to, “We need to find him, and that's not going to happen if we just stand here.”
He took a steadying breath, forcing himself to think.
“We need to split up. Dustin, check out the hallway by the AV room. You still have the key, right?” Dustin turned to him nodding.
“Lucas, you’re the fastest. Hit Will's locker, then check the west bathroom.”
Mike hesitated for half a second, “I’ll check the gym.” The words settled heavily in his chest. The gym was where the jocks spent all their free time. If something was going down, that’s where they would be.
“We meet back here in five. If someone doesn’t show, we run to them”
Lucas and Dustin peeled off in opposite directions, their footsteps echoed loudly until the sound was swallowed by brick and concrete.
Mike turned left and broke into a jog. It wasn't a great plan. He knew that. Lucas should have been the one dealing with the jocks. He would know how to handle them.
But Mike couldn’t shake the feeling that this was where he would find Will. He had to be the one to find him.
After a couple minutes of uncoordinated running, he found himself in front of the gymnasium doors. He was incredibly out of breath, heartbeat pounding in his ears. Before his hands could reach the handle, two freshman girls turned the corner, laughing.
“Oh my God, someone was totally hooking up.”
“Ew, it smells like feet in there. Did you see who it was?”
“No, it was the boys locker room, I’m not going in. They were loud though. I swear there were more than two people. Maybe it was like an orgy or something.”
Abandoning the gym, he slipped past them and turned the corner toward the locker room entrance.
Something was wrong. He could hear raised voices, indistinct.
He heard another voice, familiar but muffled by the heavy door. His stomach dropped to his feet.
Years ago, he’d recognized the sound of his dead best friend’s breathing through a walkie talkie.
Mike knew that voice.
He glanced down the empty hall behind him.
No Lucas.
No Dustin.
He turned back to the locker room door.
Whatever was happening in there, Will was inside.
Mike reached for the handle.
***
The locker room was cold. Mike stopped just short of the doorway, pressing himself into the shadow of a tall wall of lockers.
Will was pressed back against a row, backpack dumped open at his feet. Chance crouched in front of him, rifling through the bag while Andy stood close enough to crowd him. Chance tossed aside loose papers and pulled out a worn sketchbook.
He flipped through it, snorting softly. “Man,” he said, tapping a page with his finger, “there’s a lot of Wheeler in here.”
Will’s shoulders pulled inward. His hands clenched at his sides, fingers curling into the fabric of his sleeves.
Andy stepped closer. “Is he your boyfriend or something?”
Will’s face went red all at once, color blooming up his neck and into his ears. He stared at the floor, jaw locked.
Andy’s hand came up, two fingers catching under Will’s chin. He tilted his face up just enough to force eye contact. “I told you to look at me when I’m talking to you.”
“N-no, he’s not,” Will said, barely audible. “Please. Just give it back.”
Andy smiled faintly. “No, I don’t think we will.” He backed toward Chance, who passed him the sketchbook.
Mike’s pulse roared in his ears. He took an involuntary step forward before he realized what he was doing. “Hey!” he shouted “Leave him alone.”
Chance turned, grinning wide. “Oh, hear that?” He leaned in, peering over Andy’s shoulder. “Your knight in shining armor.”
Andy turned the book outward, holding it open to a page Mike recognized instantly. Himself, drawn in careful lines, a sword in hand, armor etched with ridiculous detail. The heart on his shield stood off the page, colored in bright red.
Will froze.
For one awful second, his eyes flicked up meeting Mike’s.
Mike lunged forward, but Chance caught him by the shoulder, fingers digging in hard. Mike twisted, tried to pull free.
“Let him go,” Mike snapped. “Just give him his stuff back.”
Andy glanced over, annoyed now. “Relax Wheeler, we’re just talking. Byers here and I are good friends.”
He looked back at Will. “Tell him.”
Will swallowed, his hands trembling at his sides. “Tell him what?” he whispered.
“Tell your boyfriend that you like talking to us”
Will bristled. “He’s just my friend, I swear.” he corrected, voice cracking.
Andy’s jaw tightened.
“I didn’t ask you to correct me,” he snapped, shoving Will back into the lockers with a forearm to his chest. “Tell your boyfriend exactly what I said.”
Will’s hands shook. He swallowed hard looking over at Mike.
“I like talking to them,” he said, barely above a whisper.
Andy didn’t move.
“I like talking to Andy,” Will said again, louder this time.
Andy nodded, satisfied. “Good boy.” He stepped back, holding the sketchbook out just of reach. “If you want it back, come get it.”
Will took a step forward, only to be pushed back by Andy, rattling the metal lockers behind him.
“Nope. Not like that.” He tilted his head, considering. “Crawl to me.”
Will let out a sharp, broken sound. “What? N-no way-”
Andy cut him off, slamming his fist into the locker next to Will's head.
“Stop it!” Mike shouted. “Don't touch him!”
Andy didn’t even look at him.
“You want your boyfriend to leave here in one piece?” He glanced back at Will. “Then do it, or Chance will break his arm.”
Chance’s grip tightened, making Mike hiss in pain.
Will’s chin dropped to his chest, shoulders rising with quick shaking breaths. Then he sank down onto his knees.
Mike froze.
Will’s palms pressed to the tile in front of him. When he started forward, Andy’s voice cut in again.
“Look at me, Zombie Boy. I wanna see your face.”
Something hot and blinding tore through Mike’s chest. His hands curled into fists so hard his nails bit into his palms.
A sob broke loose before Will could stop it. He choked it down, eyes flicking to Mike for half a second. Fat tears had started to shine in his eyes, dripping down his flushed cheeks.
He took in another breath before looking up to Andy.
Andy’s expression twisted, something ugly and pleased crossing his face. “I don’t know why you’re crying,” he said softly. “I thought a queer like you would be happy on your knees.”
Chance snorted.
Mike surged against the grip on his shoulder. “Let me go!”
Andy's eyes stayed on Will. “You’re good at this,” he said, almost thoughtful. “Do you two do this together at home?”
Mike couldn’t take it anymore.
He snapped his head back, hard. There was a sharp crunch behind him and a shout of pain.
Breaking free from Chance, he slammed into Andy, fist connecting hard with his jaw. Andy stumbled back, then grinned like it hadn't hurt. He shoved Mike down, rolling them both to the floor. Andy came up on top, cocking his arm back.
“Trying to play hero, huh?” Andy Laughed. Mike braced for a hit that never came.
He never saw Will move.
One second Andy was on top of him, the next an arm locked around Andy’s neck from behind, squeezing hard. Andy let out a wheeze, grabbing up at his neck.
“Get-off me!” Andy forced out, panic cracking his voice. Will’s arm squeezed tighter. Andy gasped, clawing at Will.
Suddenly, Mike heard the locker room door collide with the wall. Loud footsteps thundered in as the room erupted into noise.
“Mike! Will!” Dustin shouted.
Will didn’t seem to hear anything. Andy’s movements slowed, his feet scraping uselessly against the tile.
Lucas grabbed Will from behind, yanking him back hard. “Dude, stop,” he said, breathless. “You’re going to kill him.”
Mike lay flat on the tile, staring up at the fluorescent lights as they buzzed overhead. His chest heaved, burning through his past surge of adrenaline.
“Will,” he said, hoarse.
He scrambled up onto his knees and grabbed Will’s wrist, fingers closing around it gently. “Hey. Hey, it’s me.”
Will fought him for half a second, grip tightening once more, then something gave. His arm loosened, slipping free as Mike pulled it away.
Dustin hovered a few feet away, eyes wide. “What the hell just happened?”
Mike and Will shared a heavy look, before the bell rang in the hall just outside the door.
Lucas swore under his breath. “Shit, we've gotta go.”
Mike yanked Will to his feet and didn’t let go, steering him out the door and toward the back entrance.
***
The bike ride home felt ten times longer than it had that morning.
The air was sharp, the road too quiet. Mike rode just ahead of Will, glancing back more times than he could count, making sure he was still there, still upright. They dropped Dustin and Lucas off at the Sinclair house, after a series of intense looks at the end of his driveway.
“We’ll walkie tonight,” Mike said firmly. “-about what happened in the locker room.” He wasn’t willing to answer any questions until Will was patched up and they'd had a chance to talk.
Lucas nodded, face serious. Dustin opened his mouth like he wanted to argue, but seemed to think better of it. Mike watched them disappear inside before pushing off again, riding the rest of the way with Will in silence.
The Wheeler house was thankfully empty when they arrived. They climbed down the stairs, where Mike had Will sit on the couch before running up to the bathroom to grab the first aid kit. When he returned, Will hadn’t moved, hands knotted together in his lap.
He sat beside Will, close enough that their knees brushed, and gently took Will’s arm. Purple bruises were already blooming along Will’s forearms, finger shaped, angry. There were scratches too, red lines where Andy’s nails had dug in, trying to escape Will’s grasp.
“Hold still, okay? This might sting a bit.” Mike warned gently. He worked carefully, cleaning each mark, wrapping gauze where it was needed.
“Man,” Mike said quietly, wanting to lighten the mood. “I can’t believe how bad-ass you were in there. You totally choked Andy out!”
Will let out a small, broken laugh and immediately shook his head. “I sure didn’t feel badass. That was the most humiliating thing that’s ever happened to me.”
"The only one's who should be embarrassed are those meat heads." Mike paused, the gauze still in his hands. “Why were you even in the locker room?”
Will’s shoulders tensed. “Chance dumped his paint water down my back at the end of art class.” He stared at the floor. “It got all over my shirt. I just wanted to change before anyone else saw.”
“I didn't know they were following me,” Will went on, voice low. “I thought if I was quick, I could get in and out. I was already changed when they came in, thankfully." He swallowed. "They Blocked the door. There were two of them, and they're so much bigger than me. I didn’t know what to do."
Will continued, barely audible. "They said I shouldn't be in the boys locker room. Told me I need to use the girls’ instead and started pushing me up against the lockers. I-I froze...God, I always freeze.”
“Will,” Mike said, voice firmer now, “that doesn’t matter. Andy sucks, and next time I see him I’m going to…I don’t know. You kind of already kicked his ass. Maybe I’ll slash his tires or something.”
“No,” Will said quickly. “That’ll just make it worse. He’s already going to be so pissed about today.” His voice cracked. “This is all my fault. I should have just gone to lunch with the stupid wet shirt, then I wouldn’t have dragged you into this.”
Mike’s head snapped up. “No! No, you didn't drag me into anything Will. I'm so glad I found you.” His voice sharpened despite himself. “You didn’t do anything to deserve that. Andy is just a piece of shit. That’s it. End of story.”
Will shook his head harder, breath hitching. “He was right though! They all are. It doesn’t matter how much I try to hide it. My dad knew. Everyone’s always known. That I’m… that I’m a-”
Will broke off, jaw trembling, eyes fixed somewhere past Mike’s shoulder.
“Wait, Will.” Mike leaned forward. “I think there’s something we should have talked about a long time ago.” He rubbed a hand over his face. “I don’t know why I put it off. It’s like I-” He stopped, letting out a heavy sigh.
The silence felt thick for a moment.
“I know about the painting, Will.” Mike said softly.
Will froze. His face went white, a stark contrast to the red that was clinging to his skin from earlier. His mouth opened, then closed again, like he had forgotten how speaking worked.
Mike went on before he could lose his nerve.
“When El and I ended things...I realized we had both known for a long time that we weren’t really working. We loved each other, just not the way she wanted to be loved.” He took a breath. “I wanted to tell her that even though we weren't going to be a couple anymore, she still meant so much to me. That you had given me the painting she commissioned, and that I knew she needed me, and I would always be there for her.”
“She had no idea what I was talking about.” He huffed out a weak smile. “It’s kind of funny, actually. She didn’t even know what commission meant.”
“Mike, I-” Will cut in.
“I couldn’t figure out why you’d lie to me,” Mike said quickly. “It actually took me, like, an embarrassingly long time to connect the dots. Last week I saw you sketching me as Mike the Brave, and it reminded me so much of the painting. Then I remembered a letter El had sent me,” Mike went on. “She said you were painting something. That it was a secret. You wouldn’t let her see it. She thought you might be painting it for someone you liked...a girl.”
Will’s hands twisted together.
“It took me a while,” Mike went on, quieter now, “but once I figured it out, everything started to make so much sense.” He swallowed. “I started thinking about you and me. About all the stuff I just… never questioned before.”
“I’m sorry,” Will blurted out. “I didn’t mean to lie. I didn’t want you to ever know." His voice rushed forward, panicked. “Everything I said really was true. I just…it was from me, how I felt about you. You needed to hear it, and I thought it would mean more coming from El. I swear I’ve been trying to get over it-”
“Will,” Mike said softly, “I’m trying to tell you-”
“I am.” Will insisted. “I’m not going to do anything to mess things up between us, I just need more time-”
“I love you.”
Will stopped. For a second, he just stared at Mike, like he hadn’t quite heard him right.
“I think I’ve been in love with you most of my life, I just didn’t understand it,” Mike continued, voice shaking now. “Not until then. I just thought it was normal. That you were my best friend, and that’s why I always wanted to be close to you. To touch you. That you were just…pretty, for a boy, and that’s why I couldn’t stop looking at you, thinking about you.” He laughed softly, incredulous at himself.
Will’s throat worked. He pressed his lips together, eyes shining.
“I knew there would never be a girl who made me feel the way you do,” Mike continues. “but I told myself I was fine with that. Because I still got to have you. That you and I would always be close. Best friends.”
“You’re serious.” Will whispered,
“Yeah,” Mike whispered. “I really am. I was just so confused. And then today, when you weren’t at lunch, I completely lost it.” He shook his head. “And when I saw you in that locker room… and I couldn’t do anything to help...” His voice dropped. “I was scared too, and those were just a couple of meatheads from school. They're nothing compared to Vecna. To the Mindflayer.”
He swallowed.
“It made me realize I can’t just stand around being afraid all the time.” He looked at Will then, really looked at him. “I don’t want to do that anymore. I can’t just wait around without taking what I want. And I want you so bad-”
Mike paused, cheeks turning pink. “Okay, wait, that sounded…not how I meant it.” He rushed on. “I just mean I want you the way people mean it when they’re in love. Which is…that still sounds so bad. Wow.”
Another long beat passed.
He rushed on. “I want you in a very normal, non-weird way. Like… an average ‘in love with someone’ amount.”
Thankfully, Will's snort saved him from his mortifying display.
“Oh my God,” Will said, laughing once more before he caught himself.
He wiped at his face, like he needed a second to get grounded. “You're insane. I can’t believe I’m in love with you, too.” His smile softened. “I’ve been in love with you for a long time. I just didn’t think… I didn’t think you could ever feel that way about me.”
“Well I do.” Mike smiled bashfully.
Will shifted, just a little, until their knees pressed together. Mike’s stomach flipped into the ceiling.
“So,” Will said finally. “What now?”
Mike’s heart hammered in his chest. He swallowed, then gave a crooked, nervous smile. “Well… I guess now I stop being an idiot and ask if you want to go to a movie or something..."
Will smiled shyly. “Like a...date?”
“Yeah. Like a date.” Mike nodded, breathless.
Will glanced down at where their knees touched, then back up. “I’d like that.”
Whatever came next, they would take on together