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Mike heard footsteps coming down the stairs, they were Will’s. Will’s hurried, rhythmic footsteps down the stairs and the sound of his shoes simultaneously hitting the floor from jumping to skip the last step. The same pattern Mike had heard since they were young. Mike doesn't know when he learned Will's footsteps, it was so long ago he doesn't remember, and truthfully doesn't care.
“Hey” Mike said, a smile creeping on his face.
“Hi” Will responded, walking over to join Mike on the couch. Things had been strange to say the least. The world had almost ended and after that they had to keep moving. Keep going to school, keep going to work, they had to do everything the same as they had before because the world doesn't stop spinning no matter how much you want it to. To gain normalcy, and to harken to a better time in their lives, Mike and Will had started hanging out more. It served as a distraction and a comfort, because Mike would never say it but he needed someone by his side, more specifically he needed Will by his side. He needed to hear Will's familiar steps and he needed to sit next to Will and talk and watch movies like they used to.
Mike threw on stand by me, it was an oddly comforting movie for the both of them. When Mike sat back down he sat a little closer, his leg just barely pressing against Wills. It had become a habit of both of theirs that anytime they got up or shifted to slowly push their bodies closer and closer. To feel the warmth and solidness of the other. To feel the connection it brought the two. It was reassurance that neither of them planned to leave, that neither of them wanted to leave.
Mike was barely watching the movie, he was just looking at Will. Which wasn't anything new but it was more that Mike now understood why he'd been drawn to Will his whole life. Why he'd spent so much time staring at the boy, why he'd stayed at his bedside in the hospital, why that painting had meant so much to Mike, even though it was “from El”. Mike had stopped believing that after a bit, it just didn't really make sense for El to have been the one to commission it. She never saw Mike as the heart of the party, Will had. Beyond that El didnt need Mike she just needed someone to be there for her, It could've been anyone it just happened to be Mike. Mike thinks that maybe if she had chosen someone else to talk to that day she would've stayed, she would’ve not sacrificed herself. If she had talked to anyone else on that day Mike would bet money she'd still be here. The guilt of that eats Mike alive because he did love El, he loved her so much, but not the way she needed and not in the way he loved Will.
The slow moves towards each other throughout the course of the movie had their sides flush against each other. Will’s head just barely laying on Mike's shoulder. It was the kind of intimacy that could be labeled as friendly, but also made Mike's stomach do flips and make his heartbeat so fast he thought Will might hear it. He was paranoid that Will might hear it, hear it beating far too fast for this casual interaction. Maybe he would finally put all the pieces together and try to let Mike down slowly, because Mike knew Will wouldn't have the heart to flat out reject him. He’d try to be polite, try to save Mike the humiliation of being rejected. That might hurt more though, Will being nice while he told Mike that he didn't love him the same way, that the way Will had looked at him while he said he had a crush wasn't an admission but instead an accident. Mike would rather just have Will yell at him and never talk to him again because that way Mike would never see the boy he was in love with again, because he knew he'd never get over Will. Mike would never allow himself to get over Will, he'd rather wallow in self pity till the day he died than get over Will. That was what he thought he deserved, a looming sadness over the rest of his life. The rest of his friends moving on, they leave Hawkins behind, they leave him behind. Mike knew that's what he deserved, but he also knew he was selfish. He wanted Will, wanted the boy all to himself. He never wanted Will to leave his side, if he had a choice he'd never let Will leave his side.
With that thought Mike moved a confident hand around Will. He rested his it on the crook of Will's side and pulled him closer. Will looked at the other little confused, but Mike just smiled. Will's eyes softened and he gave a small smile back. They sat there staring at each other, just a beat too long. Mike's eyes flicked down to Will's lips before looking back up. They both looked back at the TV.
Mike's favorite line was about to play. “Do you think i'm weird” Gordie asked, ”Yeah, definitely” Chris responded, “No man seriously, am I weird?” Gordie asks with concern, “Yeah but so what everybody's weird”
That line always reminded Mike of Will, that's probably why he loved it so much. He looked at Will who was already looking at him. Will looked perfect, more than perfect, he looked like everything Mike had ever wanted, ever needed. Mike couldn't stand the way Will looked at him, he looked at Mike like he was the most important thing. Mike hated that, he hated that someone so kind, so beautiful could look at him like that. Mike didn't deserve to be looked at like he held the world up. After everything he's done Will should look at him with disgust, but he doesn't, and that terrifies Mike to his core. The love in Will's eyes makes Mike want to run, but he can't because he's selfish and needs Will. He needs Will more than he needs to be hated. He wants Will more than he's ever wanted anything, and he hopes the way Will looks at him is an indication of the same want, the same need.
Before Mike can stop himself his hand is cupping Will's face. Mike's inspecting Will's facial expression, it doesn't change. It doesn't change to hatred the way he thought it might. Mike leans in closer and closer, their breath ghosting over each other's faces.
“Can I…” Mike tries, he can't quite get the words out.
Will smiles softly, “Yes” he whispers.
Their lips connect, it's soft and tender. It's everything Mike ever wanted. It's perfect and grounding, the same way Will is. They pull apart and Will giggles, resting his head in the crook of Mike's neck.
A barely audible whisper comes out of Wills mouth “I love you”, the words are soft and perfect. Mike smiles and places a kiss on Wills head.