Chapter Text
Chapter 1
Mike was very nervous to go visit will and el in Lenora. I mean he hasn’t seen them in so long. What if everything is odd and different?
Before Mike could spiral anymore the pilot spoke on the intercom instructing everyone to get off the plane.
As he made it to the airport he saw el running towards him. He opened his arms to hug and share a kiss.
Once they parted from the hug Mike gave her the flowers he had been holding, but something was missing.
“Mike! I can’t believe you’re here I haven’t seen you in so long I’ve missed you so much tell me everything!” El boomed with energy exited to see her boyfriend.
“Haha yeah, uh” mike looked around trying to hide the fact he was uninterested in whatever el had to say. “Hey uh where’s will?” “Oh he slept in so he decided not to meet you at the airport.” “Oh okay-“ “so that means more time for us! I have so many things-“
Mike wasn’t listening to whatever el had to say. He was thinking other things. Like, where is will? Does he really not care to see me?
Suddenly he felt a yank on his arm. El was dragging him through the airport eager to go skating with Mike.
———————-
The car ride back was awkward. El was covered in chocolate milkshake and the tension was so thick they could barely breath.
But finally they had made it to the house. They all stepped out of the car and made their way to the door. Mike was exited but, nervous at the same time?
Once they made their way inside, he heard it. Wills voice. He was talking to Joyce…no..he was arguing with Joyce?
“I just don’t think they’re a good influence..” Joyce’s voice echoed through the house.
“Mom! You don’t think any of my friends are good..? It’s not my fault I’ve grown up! And I don’t just sit in a basement playing board games!”
That’s will..? Mike had many questions, but for now he just wanted to see his best friend.
He sheepishly made his way to the kitchen where they were arguing and lightly tapped on the wall making his presence known.
“Oh Mike!” Joyce shrieked with excitement. “Oh you’ve grown so much! How’s Hawkins’s?”
“Same old same old haha!” He kept it short and simple not to stall from seeing will.
“ Will!” Mike quick walked over to him, embracing him in an awkward side hug.
“Hey dude how’ve you been! Wow uh“ Mike looked will up and down noticing his new edgier popular style. “I like your style!”
“Thanks..” will finally murmured. “I like your..” he too looked mike up and down noticing his very Hawaiian tourist outfit. “No comment.”
As will looked up he saw Joyce smiling back at him. He sighed then said.
“Well do you wanna go to my room?” Will didn’t seem very enthusiastic and Mike could tell.
As they walked into wills room Mike studied it in awe thinking how much will had actually changed.
Edgy posters of bands and sports hung in the wall but not a singular painting
Will plopped down on his desk chair and Mike sat on the edge of wills bed.
“So how are things here in the big California?” Mike smiled, expecting a warm reaction to his humorous talk.
“It’s normal” will said with a very monotone expression.
“Really I haven’t seen you in 8 months and all you have to say is..normal?”
“‘Mm I mean there’s really been nothing I guess it’s just boring.”
“Hawkins is uh normal same same uh if you care.” Will gave him a small smirk while looking down at his fidgeting hands.
“Um how’s uh Jonathan and uh your mom and hopper?”
“They’re the same as always.”
“Nothing uh special?”
“No”
“Um do you still paint?”
“Not really uh I’m not really into those things anymore..”
“DND?”
“Nah..”
“Drawing”
“not really “
“Oh uh okay.” Will have him a sympathetic smile, not very genuine of course.
Mike looked around the room hoping the walls would give him answers. And to his surprise they did. His eyes settled on a poster. It was dark blue with the cure in bold white letters. Underneath where the lyrics boys don’t cry
He looked back at will
“so you like the cure?” Wills eyes lit up for a moment but then he hesitated.
“Yeah they’re cool”
“yeah I’ve only heard a few songs, what else do you listen to.” The light in his eyes dulled.
“Not a lot, I don’t really listen to music.”
“But what about the cure?”
“It was jonothan’s poster he just gave it to me”
“Oh…okay, So then what are you into?”
Mike poked his head out a little just to see the kit to roll up joints.
“Lemmie guess.”
Mike made a smoking motion with two fingers to will and smirked. Will quickly open the drawer in his desk and shoved everything in.
His cheeks had a tint of pink as he looked up. Mike laughed softly and said
“Chill I was just kidding.” Will wasn’t reciprocating Mikes goofiness Wich made Mike frown.
“Jesus…Why are you so serious?” Wills eyes darted up locking in with Mikes. But he didn’t say anything, just stared with an expression Mike couldn’t quite read.
“It’s just…I don’t know” Mike started “you’ve changed so much I barely recognize you.” Mike gave a half smile trying to keep it light hearted.
“Well I don’t know, people change.” Will snapped a little shocking him. He realized his tone and softened a little.
“Well obviously I know that but cmon man? You don’t paint don’t draw?”
“I just,” he ran his fingers through his hair. “I mean I’m not going to be that happy-go-lucky kid forever. And I’m sorry if I’m not who you want me to be.” the irony shot Mike. The memory of what he had said all those years ago in the rain now where laughing back at him.
Will knew the irony but he continued.
“I…” Mikes voice trembled unsure on what to say. Before he could mutter a word will suddenly shot up from his chair.
“Just forget about it, I don’t need your small talk Mike.”
He grabbed some things from his drawer before storming out the door.
Mike sat there in disbelief. Had he said something wrong? He felt a pit form in his stomach as he clutched his chest tugging on his shirt.
This feeling was odd. he had never felt this way for any of him and el’s arguments, Wich made him feel guilty in a way.
He sat there on wills bed for a little still too stunned to speak feeling his heels dig into the carpet below.
Suddenly a small light caught his eye. When he looked up he saw wills closet door was open. He stared at it for a while wondering if he should do something about it or just leave. The only issue with option two is he has no where to go
He can’t really go to El after all that happened with the rollar skate, he can’t go to Jonathan’s room because he’s getting high with Argyle, and we’ll, he could go to Joyce but that would be awkward and hard to explain.
Before he had time to second guess he felt himself getting up and walking towards the cracked closet door. He wasn’t sure why though, his mission was unclear. Did he want to turn off the light or did he want to snoop through his closet.
He hesitated once he reached out for the door nob but eventually opened it with a creak of the door. His closet was very messy and smelled questionable. There was clothes and random objects everywhere. But something caught his eye.
There was a blue corner sticking out behind the mess of clothes. He fought with himself in his head wondering what would be the best thing to do. one side of him wanted to dig through the pile and see what it was. But the other side wanted to just turn the light off and get out. He knew will would probably be back soon and if he was caught digging through his closet it would look really bad for Mike.
Mike sighed and reached for the light switch but paused and looked back at the corner. It looked like…a canvas..? Now the corner had his full attention. After all, will was very adamant that he no longer paints. He quickly kneeled down pushing away the clothes. Behind the pile was a painting of El. It was beautiful. It captured every part of her. Mike studied it for a few second in awe before slowly tracing his fingers over her painted features admiring every part.
He sat there studded. Had will painted this? As he traced his fingers he came to the realization there were more paintings than just that one. The row of paintings made a pretty gradient of colors. Once he slid the painting of El to the side he paused in shock.
He looked the painting up and down for an explanation or something to tell him it’s not What it looks like. But there was no denying, it was a painting of Mike. He blinked hard waking up out of his shock. Will painted me? And every feature was perfect. From the arch in his lips to the waves in his hair. He looked majestic in a way.
As expected questions flooded mikes mind. Why did will lie about painting? Why did he hide these beautiful paintings? And most importantly how had he captured Mike so well even after not seeing him for so long.
His eyes were glued to the painting. Not in a narcissistic way but in admiration for Wills talent. He admired every brush stroke on the painting and every little detail. He couldn’t help but blush to his attention to detail like his faint freckles that no one seems to notice.
Still Mike felt that pit in his stomach growing. Why did will lie? Where they not as good friends as he thought. He though they where best friends why did he hide something like this from him. Growing up he always showed Mike his drawings especially the ones of him. They hung out all the time it was only natural Mike became his muse. So why was it different now.
His eyes flashed to a paper rolled up behind the canvas of him. Already having snooped so much he found nothing wrong with snooping some more
His hands trembled slightly as he reached for the paper. He didn’t know why but he was nervous to open it. To what he would find. Even though nothing he had found was bad it still shook him up a little.
Once he got a hold of the paper he carefully opened it like a scroll. But once he opened the paper all his nerves seemed to wash away as he studied every inch of the painting.
It was a landscape with a three headed dragon and the whole party. But everyone was different. Lucas was riding a white horse, dustin was wearing armor and holding an axe, and will was wearing a wizards cloak.
And Mike…he was wearing armor and was holding a shield with a heart on it.
Mike stared at the thoughtfully painted heart on the shield. Not only was there a heart but there was a crown on top of the heart.
This heart somehow made him confused. Why was there a heart? I mean hearts had nothing to do with mikes character Mike the brave. And Mike knows will and his paintings. He knows how much thought will puts into these paintings. So he wouldn’t paint a heart just because.
Before he had time to study it further realization struck him. He realized will would be back any minute and he would find him sitting in his closet looking through his things.
Once he came to this realization he shot up from the sitting position he had been in.
As he looked down though his eyes locked back on the paint and Mike couldn’t seem to look away. He wanted to keep looking at it. To study every brush stroke to the point that he would be able to figure out wills exact thoughts as his brush his the page.
He knew that if he didn’t take it now he might never see it again. Sirens of all the ways this was a terrible idea rang in mikes head but all he could think about was the heart.
He quickly bent down and grabbed the painting in one swoop. He finally got stepped out and turned off the light closing the door in the process.
He quickly made his way over to his backpack and shoved the painting in. He knew that if he took a second to even breath, he would immediately come to his senses and put it back.
Once the painting was stuffed and zipped up into his backpack Mike threw it over his shoulder and walked out the room thankfully before will could make his way back.
—————
Will had eventually gone back home before getting yelled at by Joyce. Since then he had just been locked up in his room, and so was el.
Any other day he would probably be in El’s room but he was almost certain that if he even came close to her room she would magically regain her powers and rip his head off.
Mike had never been really fond or close with Jonathan, but even if he was he knew Jonathan was busy getting high and doing stupid stuff. So why would he hangout with Mike.
And it’s not like he could go hangout or talk to Joyce. Because not only would it be sorta awkward. But also she was very weirdly busy talking to Murray.
So he was just stuck walking circles around the Byers house.
Thankfully it was already dark and Joyce was quick to make dinner. Having nothing to else to do Mike helped Joyce prepare spaghetti
Once the spaghetti and the sauce was done Joyce called out to the rest of the house that dinner was ready.
But it wasn’t after Mike set the table and Joyce and Murray sat down did Jane, Jonathan, and argyle walk out of their rooms to eat dinner.
Mike couldn’t help but move his spaghetti around in his plate from the awkwardness that was happening.
Jonathan and Argyle were clearly high off their asses and Mike could feel Janes want to kill Mike. Joyce and Murray were clearly making up a reason why Murray was there and talking about some business trip who’s information was very questionable.
But what bothered Mike the most was Will’s absence. Which confused him even more
All these months that Will and Jane had been gone he surprisingly didn’t miss his own girlfriend. Well of course he missed her but it was hard to miss her when he was receiving letters from her weekly
Even though no physical contact between them had happened that never seemed to bother him. At first he didn’t think much of it, until a few months after they had moved to California and he realized how little he actually missed her.
After he came to this realization he couldn’t help but feel guilty. Of course he loved Jane but something had changed. He stopped getting exited when he got a letter from her and he stopped feeling exited when he thought of her. Almost like he fell out of love.
But in a way he felt she felt the same. The letters she sent stopped having emotion in love in them. they where all the same no more heart poured into them.
And although he stopped missing Jane he slowly realized he missed Will. He missed playing dnd with him and pretending he was a wizard of some kind. He missed being able to turn to him whenever he didn’t want to hang with the rest of the party. He missed having long talks with him. He felt like he was the only one who understood what he felt sometimes.
But that will was gone. In his place is a heartless monotone version. Everything that made Will Will was gone. And although Mike didn’t realize it, that stung.
Just as he started to loose hope of Mike showing he heard the click of a door and footsteps walking towards the kitchen.
He tried not to look at Will as he walked into the kitchen because he knew they had had and argument earlier. But he couldn’t help but feel happy Will was coming. Even though he knew it was wrong.
He could hear Will grab a plate and serve himself spaghetti. He heard him rustle on the cabinet looking for a fork. As he listened he looked at the only empty chair next to him. He waited to look away once he saw Will step to sit in said chair but that moment never came.
He heard Will set the fork on his plate and start walking. But his footsteps weren’t getting closer rather further.
“Where are you going?” He heard Joyce call out.
“I’m eating in my room.” Will answered sharply
“No you’re not we’re eating as a family.”
Mike could hear wills footsteps keep going before slowly fading out and being cut off by the loud slam of a door.
After ward everyone was silent. Well exept for Jonathan and Argyle who where too high to realize what was happening.
Joyce sighed sharply and looked at Mike.
“I hope it’s okay that you’re sleeping in wills room today. He agreed a few weeks ago so hopefully he’s not stubborn.”
Mike felt his heard drop. He was very much trying to avoid will and not get involved in anymore arguments. Sharing a room was the last thing he needed.
“Um…oh okay” Mike felt his voice shake and he hoped Joyce wouldn’t question it.
————————
After dinner mike grabbed his things from the entrance and got changed into his pajamas.
As he was in the bathroom getting changed he could hear Will and Joyce bickering in the room across.
He finished up brushing his teeth and putting on his pajamas. He cautiously opened the door and found Joyce standing in the door way of wills room.
“Oh Mike there you are. You’re going to be spending the night in wills room!” Joyce shot Will a look as she said that in tern making Will roll his eyes
“Okay…cool” Mike looked up at Will to see if he had any reaction but all he saw was Will laying in bed with his headphones on clearly uninterested
Mike frowned and made his way to grab his things from the hallway.
Once he grabbed his things he walked over to wills room and stood in the doorframe unsure what to do. Will rolled over and looked a mike for a few seconds. His green eyes glistened against the harsh pale yellow light of his lamp. And his hair was messy from being pressed against his pillow. Mike couldn’t help but find him attractive.
“So are you going to come in or just stare at me?”
Will stared at Mike while he tried to blink back into reality.
“Sorry! Yeah! I uh…I wasn’t…I mean!” Will rolled his eyes and pointed at a sleeping bag on the floor next to his bed. Mike looked up flustered and nodded.
Will rolled back over before Mike began setting all his things next to the sleeping bag. He wiggled his way into the sleeping bag and sat there for a minute. He thought about what to do, whether to just go to sleep or try and talk. He looked at the clock on wills bed side table. 11:30. Mile sighed and wiggled the rest of his body into the sleeping bag, he figured it was late and he must be tired.
He laid there, staring at the ceiling and studying wills room. It was so basic. No trace of the whimsical boy Mike met so many years ago.
He could hear Will rustling in his bed. Every now and then a small click from his Walkman. So much for not listening to music…
The silence was eating mike alive. The question bounced around his head begging to be said. Ask about the painting. Ask why the lies. Ask what changed.
Mike sat there for what felt like ages. He could still hear Will move around every now and then. Seemed both of them could not sleep. Mike was tired sure, but he couldn’t bring his brain to turn off.
“Will..?”
Mike swallowed hard realizing what he had just said. His mouth and his brain moved faster than his ability to stop.
There was no response. so he figured Will had either fallen asleep, blasting his music, or just straight up ignoring him. He was drifting back into his thoughts when he heard a faint click and the rattling of wills headphones.
“Mike.”
Mike couldn’t put together his expression. Usually if someone calls your name you have question in your tone. but he sounded more affirmative. Like he was the one trying to get mikes attention.
“Yes..? Uh..I mean…are you awake?”
“No shit..” will muttered under his breath
“Yeah…what’s up?”
“I uh…do you still paint?”
Silence. Mike could hear Will shift uncomfortably in his bead before clearing his throat.
“You already asked me this.”
“So then…do you?”
“Um…I…” he coughed and swallowed. Which was very noticeable in the pitch quiet room.
“Not a-anymore no”
“You don’t have to lie will.”
Wills soft,slowly turning heavy, breath stopped. For a moment it felt like everything had stopped. Neither of them moved or dared gasp a breath.
“I don’t know what you mean.” Will finally stated in a firm tone.
Mike turned to the scroll sticking out from his backpack. He hesitated before reaching for the paper. He carefully pulled it out and unwrapped it. He stared at the paper for a few seconds before looking up at wills bed. There he caught sight of Will’s dull green eyes. Something in them had shifted since Mike last saw them earlier that day. They were less sharp and more soft in a way. Almost like a deer in headlights
Once they made eye contact Will was quick to throw himself back to his spot in his bed.
“Did you snoop through my closet?”
“No! I mean… kind of… But it wasn’t on purpose! The light was on and I just… one thing lead to another I…”
Suddenly Mike saw Will jump up from his bed and quickly grab the paper out of mikes hands. He stared at it for only a second then quickly crumpled it up into a very rigid paper ball. He tossed it into the small black trash can In the corner of his bed then crawled back into his bed.
Mike sat there in aw. Never would he have expected that reaction.
“Why did you do that? That was an awesome painting.”
“It’s dumb”
“What are you talking about!? That is the prettiest most detailed painting I’ve ever seen!”
“I made it a long time ago. It’s dumb now just forget about it!”
Mike felt dumb talking to a bed because will did even bother look at Mike. Not even when he grabbed the paper.
“But how could I just forget about it! Will, that painting…I’ve never seen anything like it!”
“Then go fetch it out of the trash Mike! I don’t know what to tell you.”
“Maybe I will!”
Mike crawled over to the trash can and pulled out the crumpled piece of paper. He shoved it back in his bag and slumped his body back into his sleeping bag.
“Just…why did you lie.”
No answer. Mike frowned and tossed his head back onto his pillow.
“Goodnight will.” Mike muttered before finally drifting off to sleep.