Work Text:
Will tries to smother down a giggle as he watches Mike's adorable circular bespectacles slide down his nose. From across the small library table, Will reaches over and adjusts them for him.
"Oh, thank you, Will" Mike says softly, freckled cheeks pinking over. The bottoms of his glasses begin to fog up, and this time Will doesn't resist the urge to giggle.
"Anytime, Mikey" Will says, easily. They share a private smile, Mike's a sweet shy thing that has Will just about melting right into his chair. He could totally eat him up whole.
Soon, Will thought with hope and literal hearts in his eyes. The two boys carried on with their tasks in a comfortable silence, until it was time for them to head back to their corresponding homes.
"Would—I mean, I can give you a ri-ride—if you, if if you would—if you would like" Mike mumbled, his words trailing off weakly at the end of his stuttered sentence.
"Thanks, Mikey" Will said, rubbing the back of his neck, "maybe next time? I have practice after this, and Jane's retaking some test. She's driving us home" he explains.
"Oh yeah, yeah, no yeah. Okay, see—i'll see you around , Will" Mike nods, several times, making his cute little curls bounce.
Will laughs softly, biting down a grin. Mike doesn't get a chance to hastily retreat however, as Will takes ahold of his sleeve.
"Come to the next game?" Will pleads, unabashedly using his most powerful puppy eyes, hoping it would soften Mike up to the idea. "It would mean a lot to me, if you'd come see me cheer" Will adds, jutting out his lips in a slightly exaggerated pout. He gleefully watches Mike's throat bob, in tandem with his tongue peaking out between his dry lips to moisten them.
Will wanted to kiss him.
His little nerdy—boyfriend? (Will wasn't sure where they stood at the moment)—was very introverted, and hardly ever made an appearance at school events. Quite frankly, Will doesn't think he's ever seen the guy at any event despite it being mandatory or optional.
It was kind of hot, actually.
"I uh—yeah, of—I would love to. Of course" Mike assured, blinking down at Will.
"You're the best, Mikey. I'll see you soon" Will stands on the tips of his toes, and presses a kiss to the corner of Mike's mouth and scampers off, leaving behind a flustered, wide eyed Mike.
ㅤꨄ︎
To put it simply, Will liked Mike. And Will was sure Mike liked him too, but—he's seen the way Mike will deflate immediately when Will's friends appear, and loudly call his name. He's seen the panic in his eyes as he scrambles to bid him goodbye and book it out of sight. He's watched Mike light up like a christmas tree in the school hallways as he catches sight of Will, all for it to slip away in the blink of an eye as Mike realizes Will isn't alone.
It crushes Will's heart every time because all he can think about it as Mike retreats into himself in order to not any attention, is Mike shyly confiding in him that one of the reasons he had moved to California, was due to the immense bullying he had endured at his old school back in Indiana.
The thought alone boiled Will's blood. Mike was kind, and smart, a great and thoughtful friend. Persistently loyal and supportive like no one Will he ever met. And passionate.
It did not matter wether any given subject interested Mike a lot, or a little, perhaps it did not even matter to him at all—but the way he spoke and explained things to Will always carried passion and conviction.
Which was precisely why Will was so completely besotted with the nerdy fool. He wanted, no needed, to swallow him whole—soul, body and mind. Metaphorically, of course—though, perhaps physically in terms of that tall, and lean body of his.
Will sighed wistfully as he got ready for their last school game of the season.
Despite his best efforts to try and assure Mike his friends are nice, and nothing like the jocks at his previous school, any sort of conversation on the matter had gone in one ear and out the other for Mike.
He'd agreed on coming tonight, however, and Will had been excited beyond belief.
Now though, he was nervous, and anxious. What if Mike bailed? That would definitely crush Will—but he'd understand. What if Mike did show up? Would he feel nervous? Scared? Out of place? Would he leave, if it was all too much?
God, Will was nauseous.
"Ready?" Max asked, searching Will's face as he scanned himself over, dusting off imaginary lint from his uniform.
"I—yeah, just need a minute" Will tells her honestly.
"He's gonna show up" Max assures him, squeezing his shoulder in a small supportive side hug. "Game doesn't start for a good fifteen minutes, take all the time you need. We'll be out there waiting for you no matter what, yeah?"
Will nods at her, smiling warmly at her in appreciation. He doesn't know what he'd do without his best friend.
"Thanks, Max"
"Of course, anyt—oh?!"
"Hi, sorry. Hi—uh, Will—he" at the sound of Mike's familiar soft and nervous voice Will whirls around to face the locker room entrance where Max had just been headed towards.
"Oh yeah, no, of course. He's right over there" Max says pointing back towards her friend with her thumb. "You've got about ten minutes, loverboy" she says patting Mike's shoulder and softly pushing him towards the direction of Will. She turns around and send him a cheeky grin and two thumbs up before sauntering out into their gym.
"These are for you" Mike says, walking to stand in front of Will. "You've—you, god wow. Sorry, you look stunning—beautiful, in your cheer uniform. Not that well—you're always beautiful, of course. So beautiful" Mike says, that last part just a whisper echoing within the locker room walls.
Will watches as Mike rakes his eyes over Will's from head to toe. It warms the tips of his ears, and flushes his neck.
"Thanks, Mikey" Will laughs, airily, rocking on the balls of his feet as he reaches for the cute little bouquet of yellow and blue flowers.
"I wanted to wish you luck, on your last game. You're incredible out there, you know" Mike tells him, stepping closer. "I'll be cheering you on tonight"
"Michael Wheeler, I am going to kiss you now" Will warns, gingerly placing the bouquet to rest on top of his gym bag. He reels Mike in by the collar of his stupidly cute checkered little vest.
Will melts immediately as Mike catches him by the waist, and gasps into his mouth as their lips meet in a gentle press. It's simultaneously heaven and hell, everything and nothing all at once. Somehow it was not enough.
He tasted of coffee and peppermint, with a hint of something sweet. Will wanted to devour him.
"I have to go" Will mumbled against Mike's lips, foreheads pressed together as they struggled to catch their breaths.
"Yeah, yeah, of course. I—I have something to ask you, though, before I lose my nerve" Mike confesses.
"What is it, baby?"
Will watches as Mike's cheeks become a beautiful shade of dusty pink and grins wildly kissing him chastely once, twice, three times.
"Would you like to go on a date with me after this?"
Will grins up at Mike, heart soaring right out of his chest.
"I thought you'd never ask"