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Mike can tell something is off the moment he opens the door.
Will stands on the porch of the Wheeler household, bracing himself. His jaw is locked tight, and it’s matched by the tension in his brows. The spark in his brown eyes—the way Will always lights up whenever he sees Mike—is absent. Will’s eyes seem duller, rimmed red, unfocused, like he’s been replaying the same thought over and over in his head. Worst of all, he isn't smiling. His lips are forced into a tight line, the edges seemingly threatening to fall at any moment.
“Will? Are you okay?” Mike asks immediately, stepping aside to give Will space to enter, giving Will the space he desperately wanted to close.
Will nods once. It’s quick. He steps in and shrugs off his sweater, not bothering with throwing it on a chair. Instead, he bundles it in his arms and holds it close to his chest. Another thing between them.
“I was hoping we could talk,” Will says. It's even, neutral, and Mike can’t help the panic that flares in his chest. “In the basement.”
Will still doesn’t look at Mike.
“Oh, uh. Okay. Sure.” Mike says awkwardly, closing the door behind Will. He leads Will to the basement stairs, and they head down.
Will sits on the couch, sweater still held tight against him, and Mike wonders if he should sit next to him or stay standing.
Will finally looks up. Their eyes meet. Will’s eyes harden.
Mike decides to stay standing.
He shifts feet. “So,” Mike keeps his voice soft, gentle, “did something happen?”
“I know you’re cheating on me,” Will says.
Mike’s eyes go wide. He has no idea why Will would think that. He wonders if this is a prank or if Max started a rumor just because she could. Then he remembers he saw Jonathan pull up at Steve’s house when he was leaving two days ago. Things fall into place.
“You heard about me and Steve, didn’t you?” Mike asks.
Will’s mouth falls open. “You’re cheating on me with Steve?”
“No! What? No! Steve and I have just been… hanging out. We have similar tastes in music.” Mike says.
He hopes he doesn’t have to confess the truth to Will.
“Mike, we also like the same music.”
Mike groans. “No, I know, but Steve and I like… different music.”
Will sighs and looks away. He squeezes his sweater closer to his chest. “Whatever. Just be honest with me. How long have you been cheating?”
“I’m not cheating on you,” Mike repeats. He takes a deep breath. He needs to regain control of the situation somehow. “I love musicals. I’ve been going to Steve’s house to listen to them with him. Sometimes Robin and Eddie join us, and we all bring a different record from a musical that we like, so we can get to know different soundtracks. Sometimes it’s just Steve and me hanging out and listening to records on his super high-tech stereo.”
Will’s face falls into a look of confusion. “Musicals?” Will says the word slowly as if trying to make sense of it all. “Like… like Cats?”
“Yeah! And other musicals like Evita, Jesus Christ Superstar, and The Phantom of the Opera. Sometimes even Sondheim musicals. Eddie really likes Sweeney Todd.”
“Do you have any idea how insane this sounds?”
“You accused me of cheating with Steve,” Mike says. “That sounds even more insane than this.”
“Why didn’t you just tell me you were listening to music with Steve?” Will asks in frustration.
Mike, suddenly realizing how weird this all sounds, plays with the sleeve of his shirt instead of meeting Will’s eyes. “I don’t know. I didn’t want you to think I wasn’t cool.”
Will laughs. “Mike, I’ve thought you were cool since we were five and we played with your toy dinosaurs. You’ll never be uncool to me.”
Mike isn’t sure why he feels so relieved at that.
Despite himself, Will smiles. “I really thought you were hooking up with some dude, and I was so pissed, Michael. I even had a whole breakup speech planned. I was about to fight whoever you liked more than me.”
“You’d fight Steve?” Mike asks.
“Yeah. I’d probably win,” Will says.
Mike can’t help but laugh. He agrees with Will. He could take Steve in a fight.
“He still has his bat,” Mike says as he finally sits down next to Will. He gives Will space, not wanting to crowd him. He can’t help the twitch of his fingers as he fights the urge to reach for Will’s hand.
“I still have my powers,” Will says playfully, leaning ever-so-slightly closer to Mike.
Mike can’t help but smile at him. “Should I warn Steve before you destroy his musical theater record collection?”
“I would never,” Will says. “I love Into The Woods.”
“What?” Mike blinks. “How did I not know?”
Will shrugs. “I don’t know. Never came up.”
Mike can’t help but light up. “You got the album? You should come to the next B-Y-O-R night.”
Will rolls his eyes. “Oh, now I’m invited? And what does B-Y-O-R stand for?”
“Bring your own record. Steve can’t be expected to have all of them. And yes, you are. It was never supposed to be like… a secret or something you weren’t included in. It just started being a thing, and I didn’t realize how it looked.” Mike says.
“I really would have killed Steve if he laid a hand on you,” Will says.
“Oh my god, Will.” Mike groans and flops himself over on top of Will. “There’s no one else’s hands I want on me. Only yours.”
Will readjusts so he can wrap his arm around Mike. “Good, because I will use my powers if I have to.”
“Will,” Mike draws out the name as he whines. “Be nice to me. I’m emotionally fragile.”
Will laughs, it vibrates through him, and lets his jacket fall to the ground so he can hold Mike in his arms. “You’re emotionally something.”
“I almost got Steve killed because of Andrew Lloyd Webber. Of course I'm a little fragile.” Mike says as he turns his head to look up at Will. He pouts.
“You care so much about Steve maybe I do have a right to be suspicious,” Will says.
“Will,” Mike says flatly. It’s not funny to him anymore.
“Okay, okay I’m sorry. I was just,” Will sighs deeply, “so afraid I was going to lose you. Or that I already had,” Will admits quietly.
Will meets his eye and there’s embarrassment there, the remnants of anger, but mostly relief. There’s trust, too.
“Hey. No. Absolutely not,” Mike says. He takes Will’s hand and intertwines their fingers. “And not like that. I would never do something like that. I love you. I would never hurt you.”
“I know,” Will says as he leans into Mike’s touch. “My mind just goes to the worst case scenario. Especially when you don’t tell me stuff.”
Mike leans his forehead against Will’s. “I’m sorry. I should’ve said something. I don't know why I was so embarrassed by it.”
Will watches him for a moment, taking him in. It seems like he’s deciding something. “Okay.”
Mike squeezes Will’s hand. He can’t help the smile that appears on his lips. Mike scoots closer to Will and Will places his hand on Mike’s neck, fingers brushing his skin, causing Mike to melt into him.
“Just so we’re clear, you’re off the hook this time. But if I ever do catch you cheating on me, I’m killing him and then you,” Will says, the playful tone returning.
Mike gulps. “Noted, baby.”
They sit like that for a moment, nothing but the sounds of the house settling filling the silence before Mike perks up.
“Did you really have a whole speech written?” Mike asks.
Will drops his hand from Mike’s neck and drops back on the couch. “Maybe I did. Why?”
Mike smirks. “I want to hear it. I want to know what it’s like to have the full wrath of Will Byers focused on me.”
Will groans. “I’m not saying it. It was really bad anyway.”
“Please? A little bit?” Mike begs, placing his hands on Will’s thighs so his boyfriend has to look at him. “Why put in all the effort for it to go to waste?”
Will shoves at him halfheartedly. “If it’ll get your stupid mouth to shut up then fine.” Will clears his throat for dramatic effect. “Mike, since you can’t act like the adult you are I will once again do it for you. We’re over. You know why. I deserve better than you. I deserve someone who will love me completely.” Will stops talking and looks away.
“Wow. That was really good,” Mike says. “And ouch.”
Even turned away Mike can see the faint smile on Will’s lips.
“You do deserve better than me, just like, in general,” Mike says, hoping to break some of the tension, “but I am so glad you picked me.”
“I love you,” Will says. “I’ll always pick you.”
Mike leans in to kiss him and Will pushes himself up to meet his lips. Mike places his hand on Will’s cheek, keeping him close, keeping their lips pressed against each other’s.
“When is the next B-Y-O-R night?” Will asks softly when he pulls away.
Mike’s eyes land on Will’s lips, “Thursday.”
“Okay, I’ll bring Into the Woods,” Will says.
“Really? You’ll actually go?”
Will nods. “Of course.” He says it like it’s the most obvious thing in the world.
Mike grins like the idiot he is. “I’ll pick you up on my way to Steve’s house then.”
“Sounds good.” Will says.
Mike squeezes Will’s hand just because he can, grounding himself in of it, the familiar press of Will’s fingers fitting into his. He leans in for another kiss.