Work Text:
June 14th, 89’
Mike woke up to the sun casting through his blinds, onto his dark blue walls as he groaned. His head pounded heavily into his nerves as he pushed his face deeper into his white plush pillows.
The raven haired man woke up the same as he always did. Exhausted just by living. Just by the way his life was changing, how the days were moving.
He did the same as he always did. Flipped over the black plaid covers and crawled out his bed, stretching out his arms and legs as he exhaled deeply.
Mike walked over to his closet, rubbed his eyes as he opened the white doors. Mike grabbed black sweatpants and a dark blue sweater.
Mike looked down at the clothes, pressing his lips together as his eyes laid lazily. He remembered multiple memories from this one lone sweater.
The first night he, Dustin and Lucas went out to find their best friend, Will, they instead found El. Mike, he had given El an identical set of clothing.
The same clothes that El had held up to her face, caressing the small pieces of fabric that she had cherished for days on end until she had grown out of them.
Mike shook his head. He couldnt think about El—not anymore. He needed to move on—the boys had told him. Not Will. Will had felt the same. All of the memories of that day—the day that was supposed to be the most joyful for the party, was instead the worst for Micheal Wheeler.
The day Vecna was defeated. The day Jane Hopper sacrificed herself for a town that hated her—something Mike dreaded to happen again.
It had happened twice to the saddened male. The day the four found Will in the lake—pronounced dead.
Mike couldnt pick out the emotions that he had felt that day. The once small boy couldnt make up the right feelings for his best friend dying. He had cherished Will deeply, but couldn’t comprehend that his first ever friend had been found, dead infront of his eyes.
Then, El had felt to sacrifice herself for the sake of Will. To finally end the curse of these innocent people disappearing left and right.
“Goodbye Mike.” Was left heard two times without defeat—without plead to why El should stay—to stay with Mike, his lover.
The days had haunted Wheeler. Mike found himself sobbing of tears as he looked at the clothes, not even realizing he had been standing there far past his alarm screaming at him to turn itself off.
Mike sniffed, walking over to the red alarm clock and shutting it down. Mike wiped his tears as he quickly changed, stripping his clothes as he slipped into the clothes with tears on them.
Mike had laid back flat on his bed, wondering what to do. He didn’t know how to comprehend these strong feelings-not yet. Everyday, he had wondered how to cope with the loss of El.
Knowing he would never see her again, knowing he could never spend another moment with her. The moments he always pushed away in his teen years. The idiotic Mike, the immature Mike.
Mike had grabbed his beat up black adidas from under his dirty bed, aswell as dirty black socks as he slipped the fabric onto his feet, one after the other.
Mike looked to the black nightstand by his bed. A paper sat upon it—a letter. The word “Will” stood on it with blue pen.
Mike grabbed it, shoving it in his pocket—unknowing of the meaning. Mike knew far well what it meant. He just didn’t want to bear the words that casted the meaning of that letter.
Mike stood back up, walking out of his room as he walked down the stairs, and to his front door. “Micheal!” Mike heard Karen yell from the kitchen.
Mike didn’t have the energy to argue. He exhaled deeply as he walked backwards, meeting his mother in the hallway as she sat doing yoga in a bright green jumpsuit, following a guy on the television.
“What?” Mike groaned, crossing his arms. “You look atrocious! Did you even sleep?” Karen asked as she got up off her knees, dusting them off as she turned fully to Mike.
“Some.” Mike shrugged. Karen sighed, walking up to her son as she placed a hand on the raven’s shoulder.
“Mike.” She says softly, her eyes resting comfortably at her son. “You need to stop this.” Karen speaks. Mike’s jaw clenches as his chest heaves.
“You need to let it go. I know, it was hard. It was hard for all of us, Mike—“
“Then you’d understand.” Mike says coldly as he shrugs his mother’s hand off his shoulder.
“I do, Micheal.” Karen says, putting her hands on her hips. “But you don’t.” Mike says. “I get it, Mike. You miss her, we all miss El.” Karen says.
“El” was like a human shock collar straight to the neck for Mike. It gave him memories he didn’t need. The days he didn’t need to look back to, the nights he and her would spend together as they waited for the crawl.
“But you have to stop making this a daily thing. You looked depressed, Micheal.” Karen squints. “No shit.” Mike spits. Karen’s eyes widen, her mouth dropping as Mike begins walking back to the front door.
“Where are you going?!” Karen yells at an octave. “Will’s.” Mike says back coldly as he grabs the keys to his dad’s old pickup truck, opens the front door and slams it behind him.
Will always understood Mike in moments like this. The moments where Mike felt like he couldn’t handle his emotions—couldnt stop them from flooding, turning into waves of tears that he couldn’t soak up.
And Will was always there. Always to understand, always to hold and talk him through it. It hurt Will sometimes to hear the words coming from Mikes mouth, that he loved El.
That the only conversations they would have were mainly about her. But he didn’t mind, not for one bit. He and Mike were good now. Best friends, they were. There was no more of a question to it.
But sometimes, it hurt Will just as much. And to which he wished it turned out differently.
Mike immediately walks up to the car, unlocking it as he turns it on. The old engine revs before it finally turns on. Mike sighs, pulling out of the driveway as he begins driving Will’s house.
It wasn’t a short drive. Mike could have rode his bike if he really wanted to—but even bike’s made memories arrive upon no invite. Mike still couldnt bare them- the memory of the five of them riding bikes—the four of them riding out to find Will on cold nights.
Mike really couldnt. No matter the cause.
As Mike arrived to Will’s, Mike saw a movers van with the back sprawled out with a metal bridge. Mike immediately turned off the ignition and hopped out of his car, running to the front door.
Mike began knocking on the door, his heart pounding as he began to worry. Were they moving so soon? Joyce and Hopper werent supposed to leave till August. And Will wasn’t supposed to leave till—
June.
June. Fuck. Fuck fuck fuck
“Fuck!” Mike breathed out as Joyce finally opened the door. “Mik—“ “Hi Ms. Byers!” Mike said as he moved into the house to find Will’s room.
To the hall and left, was Will’s room. Mike remembered it specifically. It was a foot routine Mike knew by heart.
Will’s room had boxes by the door, one titled “ART SUPPLIES” in sharpie. The other titled “MOMS PLATES”.
Mike’s breath hitches as he moves into the frame of Will’s room, to see Will packing his clothes into black trash bags.
Will turns around to the heavy breathing to see Mike sitting there, his breath still as his eyes are blown.
Will recognized this in the freeze, Mike was about to have a panic attack.
This happened relatively when anyone brought up El, or anyone hinted at the Byers moving away or Will.
Will had known El was brought up. Mike’s attacks happen more often now as dates approached to Will leaving.
Mike felt he had..unfinished business with his bestfriend that he couldn’t put his finger on.
Mike felt ever since he was young, he had unspoken emotions about Will Byers. The look in his eyes just told him things he knew they didn’t tell anyone else.
He knew the moments between him and Will were special—unlike no other. And Mike wasn’t ready to give that up, not yet, and not for the world.
“Mike—“ Will said as Mike immediately came up to Will, hugging the figure as tears welled in his gaze. “I-I don’t know what’s happening.” Mike said, ringing piercing his vision as his head spins.
“I know. You’re having a panic attack, Mike. Come on, sit down.” Will says softly as he guides them both to his bed, Will first attempting to put Mike down on the bed first until he hears a small “Will.”
“Yeah?” Will replies. “I want to-I want to hold you.” Mike says inbetween gasps, the tears falling rapidly on his face.
“Okay. Yea, okay.” Will says as he sat on his bed, Mike in his lap as he continues to cry—no reason why.
Will knew this meant nothing. He just knew Mike needed a quick talking to then Wheeler was on his way. There was no question to it—no meaning to the usual cuddling the boys needed to go on with the months being.
It was Mike’s ritual to feel better. Will was the closest thing to El—Will knew. There was no denying that. Will usually let it happen, despite himself feeling hurt in the process.
Mike’s breath hitched as Will moved his thumb to Mike’s plush skin—surprisingly from the lack of self care Mike had.
Since forever, Mike never cared for his self care. When he was 13, and his depression started to form rapidly, Mike’s lack of energy for the care begin to drip.
His mother always tried to encourage him to, saying it was good for him. Mike never listened. Brushing his teeth and hair was enough, he thought.
“You’re moving.” Mike says softly. Will nods as another sob erupts from the raven haired boy. This was a conversation the two males had endlessly, and somehow Mike had the same questions and Will had the right answers.
“I am.” Will says. It was like a door to the pattern, the never ending pattern Mike Wheeler traveled down. Mike tends to forget certain things—and those certain things are forgotten by choice as Mike didnt want to soak up the knowledge of knowing it was going to happen—or it had happened.
“Why.” Is all Mike says. He knew why. He chose not to believe.
“You know why.” Will coos softly, his hands still ruffling Mike’s hair as Mike breaths agaisnt Will’s neck.
Will knew this meant nothing. It had no meaning—no meaning. No meaning—fuck.
Fuck, Will thought.
Tears began forming in his own eyes. Will thought to stay—staying was an option. Getting a low rented apartment in Montauk to stay inbetween a community college and his parents.
But Will couldnt bare the feeling of staying in Hawkins. The memories, the memories of Vecna—castle Byers, the bullying, his dad, Mike.
It was all too much. Mike knew, everyone knew. Will’s own attacks got to him. It was too much for the both of them.
Will wanted Mike to come with him to New York. Will and Mike both knew it would be better for Mike, to have a fresh start. It was only the ridden of nostalgia and memories that continued to bury Mike Wheeler deeper into Hawkins.
And Mike felt he couldn’t leave that behind. No matter if he was the last soul in Hawkins to be, dead or alive, he knew he would never leave.
“I don’t want you to leave.” Mike cried. This was a surprise to Mike—he rarely cried like this. Sure, a few tears here and there. But never full on sobs.
“I know.” Will said, tears dawning upon their own arrival on Will’s face, onto Mike’s dark blue sweater.
“Mike I have to pack..Hoppers driving me in an hour.” Will says, his breath heaving at his own words.
Mike shoots up, off of his best friends lap as his eyes widen. “Hour? An hour?!” Mike says, his breath catching up faster than he can comprehend.
“Mike..” Will stands up, his hands finding Mike’s.
Those same feelings aroused Mike, who still couldnt point them out. It was like something pulling them down to never come back up.
It was like unrecognizable words wanting to jump out of Mike’s throat. To yell out to the world—something to Will. But he couldnt recognize what.
“Please.” Is all Mike can say. He knows there’s more.
“I wish I could stay, Mike. I tried to tell you—“ “But you didn’t.” Mike says softly. “I couldnt.” Will says.
“I couldnt bring myself to tell you—I didn’t want to make myself recognize I was leaving.” Will frowns, tears still flowing between them.
“Then why can’t you stay. If you want to stay that badly—“ “Because, Mike.” Will chokes out a sob.
“You know why. This place—Hawkins was never for me.” Will says. “Everything that has held me captive here for so long—I don’t think I would be able to stay any longer.” Will breaths out.
Mike scans the boys room. There was nothing but a bed and a bag of clothes on the floor.
No posters, no dinosaurs, no photos, no action figures collecting dust in the back of the bookshelf, no record player, no posters—
Will turns around to a knock on his oak door, to see Hopper standing in the door frame. “Ten minutes, kid.” Hopper says as he walks away.
Mike didn’t know what to do. His heart raced, faster then ever. The raven haired boy thought it would fall out of his chest, that he would choke on every emotion that were to come next.
Will comes up to Mike, and hugs him tight. And they sit there. Together. “I feel like I’m going crazy.” Mike sobs, holding onto Will.
“If you were to go crazy, Mike. I’d go crazy with you. Crazy together, right?” Will sobs. “Please, Will.” Mike says softly.
Will pulls back, looking into Mike’s blue eyes. “I can’t. You know I can’t.” Will says, opening yet another door to a never ending story.
Rain casts outside, the wetness filling the roads just as the boys tears are.
“If I could, I would.” Will says, his forehead pressed against Mikes.
“Will—“ Mike chokes out. “I have to go.” Will says. “I will call you, everyday,” Will begins, more tears erupting.
“No.” Mike says in denial, quietly.
“I will send you letters. Like we did, Mike.” Will smiles softly. “I’ll even send you those crappy paintings.” Will chokes a sob.
Will begins to grab that black trash bag to clothes until Mike grabs onto his wrist, fear dawning upon memories, upon his wake.
“Mike..” Will says. Mike shakes his head. “You can’t. You can’t leave me—not you.” Mike sobs.
“Not you too.”
Will stares, lowering his head to avoid eye contact from Mike. It meant nothing, he knew.
“I know. I know I can’t—but I have to go.” Will says, turning his head away from Mike’s gaze. Mike’s face scrunches up as he couldnt bare the tears no longer.
Not these strong emotions.
“Hoppers waiting, Will.” The two boys here from behind them, to see Joyce standing there.
Will nods as Joyce smiles, then smiles to Mike, then walks out of the bare room.
The room that once casted memories.
“Come on.” Will says quietly as he grabs onto Mike’s hand, walking them both out.
The boxes that were once there on the wall of Will’s old room, now sit in the trunk of Hopper’s brown car.
The two boys make it outside, the rain already drenching them both as Mike sobs with it.
“It’s time for me to go, Mike.” Will says softly as his light blue shirt becomes more drenched.
“No.” Mike denies once again, shaking his head as his lips quiver. Will nods. “I know, I know Mike.” Will says softly.
“Just—“ Mike panics. The feelings—the words, the coils in his stomach begin to turn into something bigger. Something more—something he could grasp onto.
Before the two boys could think, before the clouds could clear, before anything else.
Lips crashed onto the other. Mike’s lips—crashing to Will’s. Will’s eyes widened as Mike squeezed his shut.
His wet hand finds comfort on Will’s jaw as he lets go of the kiss. Mike opens his eyes, he couldnt make of Will’s reaction.
Then, Will leaned and returned the feeling. Chasing the sweet taste of Mike’s lips, the wet air casting around them as the world fades behind them.
Will lets go with another sob. His heart aches, his stomach spins as he felt like he could throw up. Not of the kiss, no. Of the feeling of leaving Mike.
Will leaves one more reassuring glance. “Go.” Mike says. “I’ll be okay.” Mike says, holding back obvious tears. Will lets out a small chuckle before kissing his best friend once again.
“I will call you..as soon as I get to New York.” Will pants. Mike scrambles as he reaches into the pocket of his sweatpants, grabbing that same letter and sticking it out to Will.
“Don’t—don’t..read it here. You said we could send letters, yeah? Well, let’s start here.” Mike smiles, letting the tears fall.
Will looked as he smiles back, taking the paper quickly from it getting wet.
“Now go.” Mike says, squeezing Will’s hand. “I want you to come with me.” Will says. “You know I can’t.” Mike frowns.
“Not now.”
“But. Maybe eventually.” Mike says, his lips pressing together. Will lets out a wet chuckle as he begins walking to the car, before he stops.
Will gives one last hug to Mike, a reassuring one. A sign that everything will be okay, for the both of them.
Will walks back, opening the car door as he gives one last glance to Mike. Mike smiles as he waves to Will, holding back the tears of memories.
The memories upon him. Upon all of the nostalgia. And maybe for one day, he could be a hero to his own self.
Will waves back as he gets in the car, closing the door as Hopper starts the car. Will looks back once more at Mike, to see Mike smiling at him.
Then Hopper begins driving away, down the same street the four boys would all play on. To bike on, to play hide and seek on. It was perfect, as it lasted.
Mike believed he would be okay. Joyce came up to him as he cried, holding him as she rubbed his back. He knew he would be okay. Maybe not forever, but just for one day.
As Will sat in the car, tears drying on his face, he remembered the letter in his pocket. A letter Will thought he would never receive.
Will opened the paper, to see it surprisingly not typed, but written. It wasn’t the messy writing Mike Wheeler usually did. But it was neat, something Will would be sure to keep.
And so he began reading.
“Dear Will Byers,
I really miss clouds. I really miss you right now, too.
Feels like when you went to Lenora, wish I could come over.
I’m losing my mind.
I keep thinking, why did I paint my walls blue again?
I’m also wondering, what will be the point of my life when your gone?
Sometimes I’ll pray about it. I don’t pray often, but I usually don’t close my eyes. I think about you, Will.
I wonder if you’ll ever feel the same about me, or if I’ll find some old man with the same weird last name as me.
Do you even know the feelings I have for you, Will Byers?
Will Byers, did you ever love me? Or did I just go crazy? Like I said, I think I’m losing my mind.
Please reply so I can figure it out.
It’s not that I haven’t payed attention.
Trust me, I have.
But you haven’t said it out loud, made me think you really didn’t love me back.
Will, do you see what you’re doing?
This wasn’t really supposed to be a love letter, nor a confession, but I guess it is now.
Hopefully yours truly,
-Mike Wheeler.”
Will hadnt noticed the amount of tears falling onto the paper, nor the hand rubbing on his back. It was Hoppers.
“You really love him, huh kid?” Hopper says. Will nods as his lips quiver.
Will knew he did. He never said it, he never knew how it would turn out. But when Mike kissed him, and Will kissed him back, he knew he would be okay.
Maybe not forever, but as the memories dawned upon the boy, he knew he could atleast be for one day.