Chapter Text
.
.
Hawkins felt the same.
That was the strange thing.
After everything, after all the changes, after nearly a year had passed, the streets still looked the same. The sidewalks still cracked in the same places, the streetlights still flickered at dusk, and the air still carried that quiet, small-town stillness.
But everything inside it had shifted.
The Blue House
The little blue house down the street from the Wheelers’ was alive in a way it hadn’t been before.
Sunlight poured through the open windows, catching dust in the air and warming the wooden floors. The kitchen looked lived-in—two mugs on the counter, a half-finished bowl of cereal, a jacket tossed carelessly over a chair.
Will sat cross-legged on the living room floor, sketchbook open, pencil moving slowly across the page.
The front door opened.
“Will?” Mike called.
“In here,” Will replied.
Mike stepped inside—carefully.
Suspiciously carefully.
“…Mike?” Will said, glancing up.
Mike crouched down and opened his jacket.
A tiny gray kitten peeked out.
Will froze.
“…Mike.”
“She was outside the store,” Mike rushed out. “And she was cold and no one claimed her and I couldn’t just leave her—”
“Mike.”
Mike stopped.
Will was smiling.
“You brought home a kitten.”
“…Yeah.”
Will reached out, gently petting the tiny head.
“Oh my God.”
The kitten purred instantly.
“We’re keeping her,” Will said.
Mike laughed.
“I was hoping you’d say that.”
Will cradled the kitten close, smiling softly.
“…I love you, you know.”
Mike leaned into him.
“I know.”
The Fight
Later, across town, the Wheeler house wasn’t nearly as peaceful.
Nancy sat at the table, surrounded by papers, frustration building with every passing second.
Robin leaned nearby.
“You’ve rewritten that sentence five times.”
“I know.”
“Want help?”
“No. I just need quiet.”
Five seconds.
“But technically—”
“Robin!”
Silence.
“My problems were myriad. I was having my period,” Nancy said sharply.
Robin laughed.
Nancy didn’t.
“…Okay.”
“Robin!”
That one hurt.
“…Right. Quiet.”
Robin walked away.
Minutes later—
A sniffle.
Nancy froze.
“Oh my God.”
She rushed to the bathroom.
“I was trying to help,” Robin said quietly from inside.
“I know.”
The door opened.
Robin’s eyes were red.
Nancy pulled her into a hug.
“I’m sorry.”
“…You yelled my full-name energy.”
Nancy laughed weakly.
“I did not.”
“You did.”
“…I’m sorry.”
“…You’re forgiven.”
The Run
Later that morning—
“I’m heading to the Squawk,” Robin said.
Nancy nodded.
Robin left.
Nancy sat still for ten seconds.
Then—
“Oh my God.”
She grabbed the phone.
“Mike—I want to marry her.”
“…Then go tell her.”
Nancy hung up.
And ran.
The Proposal
“ROBIN!”
Robin turned in the middle of the street.
“Nance?”
Nancy ran up to her, breathless.
“I can’t wait anymore.”
“…Wait for what?”
Nancy grabbed her hands.
“I love you.”
Robin froze.
“I want to marry you.”
“…In the middle of the road?”
“Yes!”
Cars passed.
Nancy didn’t care.
“Robin Buckley, will you marry me?”
Robin stared.
Then smiled.
“Yes.”
Nancy blinked.
“…Yes?”
“Yes.”
They laughed, holding onto each other in the middle of the street.
The Radio
At the station, Robin sat in front of the microphone, the red light glowing.
“Good afternoon, Hawkins…”
She smiled to herself, twisting the ring on her finger.
“However your morning has been… mine has been amazing.”
She lifted her hand.
“I now have a sparkly rock on my finger.”
A quiet laugh.
“This next song is dedicated to the person who gave it to me.”
She pressed play.
Kiss Me filled the air.
The Reaction
Back at the blue house—
“…WHAT?” Mike and Will said at the same time.
Will laughed.
“She actually did it.”
Mike shook his head, smiling.
“Only Robin.”
The Car Ride
Nancy drove.
Holly sat beside her.
Milkshakes were the destination.
The radio clicked on.
“…Good afternoon, Hawkins…”
Nancy froze.
“…Robin.”
They listened.
“I now have a sparkly rock on my finger…”
Nancy nearly stopped the car.
Holly gasped.
“IS THAT YOU?”
“I— I think so—”
“This next song is dedicated—”
The music started.
Holly grabbed her arm.
“YOU’RE GETTING MARRIED.”
Nancy laughed, breathless.
“I guess I am.”
Holly grinned.
“Best milkshake trip ever.”
Nancy smiled, glancing at her ring.
Still there.
Still real.
Ending
That night, Hawkins felt quiet again.
But it wasn’t the same quiet.
Lights were on in the blue house.
Music played faintly somewhere across town.
And in small moments—in kitchens, on radios, in passing glances—everything had changed.
Not in a loud way.
Not in a world-ending way.
Just…
In the kind of way that stays.
Make Will count mikes frefreckles while he's very tierd
Scene — Freckles
The house was quiet.
Late enough that the world felt softer.
A single lamp glowed in the bedroom, casting warm light across the sheets. The window was cracked open just enough to let in the cool night air, curtains shifting slightly with the breeze.
Mike was already half asleep.
He was stretched out on his back, one arm tucked under his head, the other resting loosely across Will’s side. His breathing was slow and even, that heavy, drifting kind that came right before sleep fully took over.
Will wasn’t asleep yet.
He was lying on his side, facing Mike, close enough that he could feel the warmth of him.
Close enough to see everything.
Will shifted slightly, propping his head up on his arm.
He studied Mike’s face quietly.
The soft curve of his hair falling into his eyes.
The way his eyelashes rested against his cheeks.
And then—
Will smiled faintly.
“…Freckles,” he murmured under his breath.
They were faint.
Scattered across Mike’s nose and cheeks, barely visible unless you were this close.
Will reached up slowly, carefully, like he didn’t want to wake him.
His finger hovered for a second—
Then gently touched just beside one.
“…One,” Will whispered.
Mike didn’t move.
Will traced lightly across his cheek.
“…Two… three…”
His voice was barely there, soft and slow, words blending into the quiet of the room.
“…Four…”
Mike shifted slightly, his arm tightening just a little where it rested against Will, like he was instinctively pulling him closer even in his sleep.
Will smiled.
“…Five.”
He kept going, slower now.
Not even really counting anymore.
Just… noticing.
“…Six…”
His finger brushed lightly across the bridge of Mike’s nose.
“…Seven…”
Mike’s nose scrunched slightly in his sleep.
Will huffed a quiet laugh.
“…Hey,” he whispered softly, like Mike could hear him. “Don’t move. I’m counting.”
Mike mumbled something unintelligible, still asleep.
Will’s expression softened.
“…You’re impossible,” he murmured.
He let his hand rest gently against Mike’s cheek instead of moving it again.
The counting faded.
It didn’t matter anymore.
Will just watched him for a moment longer, eyes heavy now.
“…I love you,” he whispered quietly.
Mike shifted again, this time leaning just slightly into Will’s hand, like he heard something even if he didn’t fully wake.
Will smiled.
His eyes finally closed.
And the room settled back into quiet, the soft rhythm of two people falling asleep together filling the space.
Wi!! Is the tired one and Mike laugh
Scene — Freckles (Tired Will)
The room was dim, lit only by the soft glow of a bedside lamp.
Outside, Hawkins was quiet. The kind of quiet that made everything feel slower, softer.
Will was barely awake.
He was curled into Mike’s side, half draped over him, his cheek pressed against Mike’s shoulder. His hair was a mess, his eyes heavy, blinking slow like he was fighting sleep and losing.
Mike, on the other hand, was very awake.
Mostly because Will had been quietly poking his face for the past two minutes.
“…Will,” Mike said, trying not to laugh, “what are you doing?”
Will didn’t answer right away.
His finger gently tapped Mike’s cheek again.
“…Freckles,” Will mumbled.
Mike blinked.
“…What?”
Will shifted closer, squinting at his face like it required intense focus.
“…I’m counting them.”
Mike let out a quiet laugh.
“You’re counting my freckles.”
Will nodded slightly, already losing focus again.
“…One…”
His finger tapped lightly near Mike’s nose.
“…Two…”
He missed the next one completely and tapped Mike’s cheekbone instead.
“…Three…”
Mike was smiling now, trying very hard not to move.
“You’re very bad at this.”
Will frowned slightly, still half-asleep.
“…No I’m not.”
“You just counted the same one twice.”
“…Did not.”
Mike laughed softly.
“You absolutely did.”
Will huffed quietly, clearly offended in a very tired way.
“…Shh. I’m counting.”
Mike bit his lip, trying to stay quiet.
Will leaned even closer, eyes barely open now.
“…Four… five…”
His voice slowed.
“…six…”
His hand dropped slightly, resting against Mike’s face instead of actually counting anymore.
Mike looked at him, soft smile still there.
“You’re falling asleep.”
Will shook his head a little, eyes already closing.
“…No… I’m counting…”
“…Seven…”
There was a pause.
Then—
Nothing.
Mike let out a quiet laugh.
Will was fully asleep now, hand still resting against his cheek, breathing slow and even.
Mike carefully reached up and covered Will’s hand with his own.
“…You didn’t even make it to ten,” he whispered.
Will didn’t respond, just shifted slightly closer in his sleep.
Mike smiled, brushing his thumb lightly over Will’s fingers.
“…You’re ridiculous.”
He leaned his head gently against Will’s.
After a second, he whispered—
“…I love you.”
Will stirred just enough to mumble something soft and unintelligible, pressing closer without waking.
Mike laughed quietly again.
“Yeah,” he whispered. “That’s what I thought.”