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The arcade was loud in the way only arcades could be.
Machines beeped, coins clinked, and neon lights bounced across the walls in flashing colors.
Will was talking.
When Will got into a story, he really got into it.
“…and then the Demogorgon literally came through the wall,” Will said, gesturing with both hands as he spoke.
Dustin stared at him like he was listening to the most fascinating story ever told.
“Okay wait,” Dustin said. “Did it break the wall or phase through it?”
Will paused, thinking hard.
“…Kind of both?”
Dustin clapped in his hands.
“That’s terrifying but also scientifically fascinating.”
Will laughed.
Across the arcade, Mike leaned against a machine.
He wasn’t doing anything.
He was watching them.
Not in a creepy way — just the way he always did. Like he was making sure Will was okay.
Robin stood next to him with her arms crossed.
“You’ve been staring for five minutes.”
“I have not.”
“You absolutely have.”
Mikes jaw tightened.
“I’m just watching.”
Robin tilted her head.
“You do that a lot with him.”
Mike frowned.
“What does that mean?”
“Nothing,” Robin said, but she smirked slightly.
Across the room, Will was still explaining something animatedly.
“…and the Upside Down smells like rotting leaves and smoke at the same time and—”
Dustin nodded seriously.
“Atmospheric decay.”
“Exactly!”
Mike smiled and looked at the floor without meaning to, watching will made him calm down.
Robin noticed.
“Oh my god,” she said softly.
“What.”
“You literally smiled and avoided his gaze.”
Mike rolled his eyes instantly.
“Oh shut up.”
But he still kept watching Will.
And if Mike looked a little tense while doing it, no one said anything.
⸻
Earlier —
Will tugged Dustin aside near a row of machines.
“Hey, Dustin?”
“Yeah?”
Will hesitated.
His hands kept fidgeting with the sleeve of his sweater.
“…Can I tell you something?”
Dustin immediately got serious.
“Of course.”
Will looked down.
“…I think I like someone.”
Dustin blinked.
“Oh.”
Will swallowed nervously.
“…Mike.”
For a moment Dustin just stared.
Then he softened.
“That’s… actually not surprising.”
Will looked up quickly.
“…What?”
Dustin shrugged.
“You’ve known him forever. You guys are always together.”
Will sighed.
“…Yeah, but that doesn’t mean he likes me like that.”
Dustin glanced across the arcade where Mike stood talking to Robin.
“…Maybe,” Dustin said carefully.
Will shook his head.
“No.”
Dustin nudged him.
“Hey.”
Will looked at him.
“Mike may be stupid and very hard to read but… it’s quite obvious he likes you too,” Dustin said gently.
Will smiled a little.
“…Thanks but.. I don’t know”
he still looked nervous.
⸻
Later Dustin wandered over to Mike and Robin.
Mike glanced at them suspiciously.
“…Why are both of you looking at me like that?”
Dustin shrugged.
“No reason.”
Robin leaned casually against the machine.
“So.”
Mike frowned.
“So what?”
Dustin nodded toward Will across the arcade.
“You two spend a lot of time together.”
Mike shrugged.
“Yeah.”
“Why?” Robin asked.
Mike blinked.
“…Because he’s my friend?”
Robin smirked.
“You’re very protective of him.”
Mike rolled his eyes.
“Well someone has to be.”
Dustin raised an eyebrow.
“Why?”
Mike opened his mouth.
Then paused.
“…Because—”
He stopped.
Robin watched carefully.
Mike rubbed the back of his neck.
“…He’s important.”
Robin leaned closer.
“Important how?”
Mike’s face turned red.
“Just important.”
Dustin exchanged a look with Robin.
Mike noticed.
“…Why are you interrogating me?”
“We’re not,” Dustin said quickly.
Mike looked extremely unconvinced.
Dustin eventually wandered off toward another game.
“Alright I’m gonna play Dig Dug.”
Mike sighed.
“…Great.”
Robin stayed.
Mike looked at her.
“You’re still here.”
“Yep.”
She studied him.
“You know you’re blushing, right?”
Mike groaned.
“Oh my god.”
Robin smiled gently.
“You care about him a lot.”
Mike stared at the floor.
“…Yeah.”
⸻
Later the four of them sat at a small table with snacks and drinks.
Dustin had a giant slushie.
Mike pointed at it.
“You’re gonna regret that.”
“Nope.”
Will laughed.
Robin watched the two boys quietly.
Dustin leaned forward. He was bored again..
“Favorite color.”
Mike and Will answered immediately.
“Blue” “yellow”
Dustin pointed between them dramatically.
“See.”
Mike frowned.
“What?”
“You two always match and agree, blue and yellow matches together so well.”
Mike shrugged.
“That’s because they’re nice colors and will has good taste.”
Will smiled slightly.
Mike immediately looked away like he hadn’t meant to say that.
Robin noticed.
Dustin noticed.
Will didn’t notice.
no one said anything.
⸻
Dustin suddenly stood up.
“Okay.”
Mike sighed.
“What now.”
“Music.”
They walked to the jukebox.
Dustin dropped in a coin.
The opening beat of I Think We’re Alone Now filled the arcade.
Dustin started singing immediately.
“I THINK WE’RE ALONE NOW—”
Robin joined him laughing.
Will sang along too.
But Mike didn’t.
He stood there quietly.
Arms crossed.
Watching.
Dustin noticed Mike looking at him with a weird tense expression.
Like he knew something.
Will eventually noticed Mike wasn’t singing.
“…Mike?”
Mike blinked.
“What?”
“You’re not singing.”
Mike shrugged.
“Just listening.”
Will stepped closer.
“…Are you okay?”
Mike hesitated.
“…Yeah.”
Will frowned.
“You look stressed.”
Mike rubbed the back of his neck.
“…Fuck.”
Will blinked.
“What?”
Mike laughed nervously.
“This song just freaks me out.”
“…what about it?”
Mike stared at the floor.
“…It literally explains me.”
Will’s heart started racing.
“…what?”
Mike exhaled slowly.
“…I think I like someone, and just like the song says.. I’m scared of what others would think and It’d be sneaking around together hoping the secret stays a secret.”
Will swallowed.
“…Who is it?”
Mike looked up.
Straight at him.
“…your so silly will… it’s you.”
Will froze.
Mike panicked.
“I didn’t mean to just say it like that I’m sor—”
Will kissed him.
Quick.
Soft.
But very real.
Mike blinked in shock.
Then kissed him back.
Behind them Dustin cheered loudly.
“YES!”
Robin laughed.
“Finally.”
Mike covered his face.
“Oh my god.”
Will laughed shyly.
The chorus played again.
Dustin grabbed both of them.
“No awkwardness allowed.”
And soon all four of them were singing together.
“I THINK WE’RE ALONE NOW—
THERE DOESN’T SEEM TO BE ANYONE AROUND—”
Mike laughed mid-lyric.
Will leaned against him.
Robin sang louder just to tease them.
And Dustin looked like the happiest friend in the world.
⸻
I think we’re alone now ~
I Think We’re Alone Now is a pop song originally performed by Tommy James and The Shondells in 1967, (6777777) and later famously covered by Tiffany in 1987. This song was played in stranger things with holly in the Henry creel house, holly wheeler played by Nell fisher was a fan of the song and the artist.
The song is about two teenagers (in this fic will and Mike) who like each other (they’re the same gender which means they’re queer) but feel like they have to hide their relationship from the world because ppl hate queers. Throughout the lyrics they sneak around trying to hide the fact they’re queers in love from the world, waiting for moments where nobody is watching so they can finally be together and be themselves.
Lines like:
“Children behave, that’s what they say when we’re together”
suggest that adults or society disapprove of their relationship. Cus again, ppl hate queers. The characters in the song (in this fic Mike and will) feel judged by ppl who hate queers and watched, (they think ppl know their secret) so they look for moments when they can finally relax and be themselves.
The chorus:
“I think we’re alone now, there doesn’t seem to be anyone around”
represents that moment of privacy where they can drop the fear and just exist together.
Because of this theme—young people hiding their feelings and wanting a safe moment to be themselves—the song has often been interpreted by many listeners as having queer resonance, even though it wasn’t originally written specifically about queer relationships. The idea of secretly liking someone, worrying about what others might think, and finding safety in a private moment together connects strongly with a lot of queer experiences. So no it technically isn’t a queer song but we turned it into one.
That’s why the song works so well for Byler (Mike/Will) interpretation in the world of Stranger Things. Mike and Will’s story already revolves around unspoken feelings, fear of being judged, and finally finding the courage to admit what they feel.
In this fic, the song acts as a way for Mike and Will to indirectly communicate their feelings, because sometimes music says the things characters are too scared to say out loud.
“Children behave, that’s what they say when we’re together.”
Mikes fear, what would everyone think if they knew he was gay/bi? That wouldn’t be correct behavior. Especially not when around will so if anyone would suspect they’d want Mike to behave.
Wills past fear, scared of vecna taking advantage of it and other peoples opinions and Mike not wanting to be friends no more/not feeling the same.
“Running just as fast as we can.”
Trying to run away from their problems as fast as possible
“I think we’re alone now…”
They think they’re safe to be who they are
“…there doesn’t seem to be anyone around.”
When no one’s around they can be who they actually are
Music CAN speak words.