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The Wheeler basement always got quieter after everyone left.
Will could hear the footsteps upstairs—Mike walking the others to the door, muffled voices saying goodbye, the familiar creak of the front door. Ted's television, muted by the floor. Then, silence.
He stayed where he was. Because now that basement was his place. His things were scattered in the corner near the couch, his drawings on the coffee table, a change of clothes folded on top of the makeshift mattress. Living there still felt strange, but it was better than anywhere else.
His eyes wandered to the shelf by the television, considering whether he'd risk watching something, and landed on the small tube forgotten there.
Will picked up the tube, turning it between his fingers. There was no color label, just a subtle, rosy shimmer, almost transparent.
Lipstick or lip gloss; Will didn't really know the difference. Someone had left it there.
It could be Max's—she used things like that sometimes. It could be Nancy's, who was always leaving her things scattered around the house.
The thought that it might be Eleven's crossed his mind too quickly, and Will pushed it away. Dangerous territory.
It didn't matter who it belonged to. He just wanted to know what it would be like.
The cap twisted off with a dry click. The applicator slid softly against his lips, the wet gloss spreading with an ease that surprised him. When he finished, he pressed his lips together, feeling the strange and pleasant texture.
He turned to his reflection in the dark screen of the television. One of those old, enormous TVs that the Wheeler family still hadn't replaced.
It wasn't an absurd change. His lips just shone a little more, looked… more defined. More alive. More his.
He raised a hand to touch his own face but froze when he saw that the reflection in the TV screen showed more than he expected. Mike was on the last step of the stairs.
Will spun around so fast he almost snapped his neck. The lip gloss slipped from his fingers, falling to the floor with a sound that see es deafening.
"Mike," was all he could manage in a whispered voice, his face burning.
Mike descended the last step and took a few more paces, stopping. His eyes were fixed on Will's mouth. For a moment, no one spoke.
"Everyone gone?" Will finally said, his voice coming out lower than he wanted. Trembling and fearful.
"I…" Mike shook his head as if to clear his thoughts. "Dustin… I said I was going to grab a comic that…" Mike still hadn't looked away. Will felt his face grow even hotter; the familiar, freezing fear running through his veins under Mike's gaze. "Whose is it?" Mike asked, pointing with his index finger at his own lips.
Will took a deep breath once, twice. "I don't know," he answered, lowering his head in fear. "It was there."
When he looked up, Mike was closer. Will hadn't even heard him approach.
"It looks good on you," Mike said, shoving his hands into the pockets of his jeans.
"It's not mine."
"I know. But it should be." The silence stretched. Mike seemed to hesitate, something rare for him. "Why did you do it?" Mike asked.
Will shrugged, trying to seem indifferent. "Curiosity."
Mike nodded but didn't say anything. His eyes dropped to Will's lips again, quick, as if he thought he wouldn't be noticed.
"It looks…" Mike started, then stopped, running a hand through his hair nervously. "I mean, it doesn't even look like you're wearing anything."
Will frowned, confused. "It's just gloss. I think."
"I saw. I'm just saying your mouth is already pretty without it."
Will was sure he was going to die, and Mike took another step. Now they were too close for anything Will knew how to name.
"Can I…" Mike hesitated. "Can I see it up close?"
Will didn't even have time to answer. Mike was already there, his face drawing closer, his eyes fixed on Will's mouth. Will felt his heart race.
The touch of Mike's lips against his was so light it could have been imagination. But when he pulled back, the gloss had transferred. Mike touched his own lips with his fingers, seeing the rosy shine on them. He blushed.
"Sorry," he said, his voice faltering slightly.
Will didn't answer. He just grabbed Mike by his t-shirt and kissed him back.