Work Text:
With his easel standing before him in the middle of the park, Will was having a great fall morning. It was one of the coldest in Hawkins since Vecna’s great rein of terror, but the quick weather change brought about the famous fallen leaves that were enough to inspire a painter and frighten a poet. His brush danced across the white backdrop, perfecting the leaves stroke by stroke. As he was staring at the half painted canvas before him, will suddenly realized how low the temperature dropped. the cold autumn air nipped at his arms, biting through his sweater. It seemed to just be getting colder as the chills seeped through the fibers, the warmth of his skin not being enough to fight back the freezing conditions. In response, he quickly shifted his scarf around to another position and breathed on his hands to try and give them a little warmth.
As Will rubbed his hands together, kneading the heat as far into his bones as he could, he was startled by a pair of hands clasping over his eyes. Almost immediately, Will realized the only sane option of the person who would do something was his boyfriend, but right before that, a jolt of fear shot through him. The fingertips were still pressed up against his face, as a voice Will knew like the back of his hand called out, “Guess who?” He rolled his eyes, grabbing onto of the so-called stranger’s hands, gently taking them off his face.
“I have no idea.” Will called sarcastically, still holding onto one of their hands as he turned around to face him.
Looking at the person there, a little childish wave of excitement shot through, like when he was little and used to imagine running his fingers through his crushes hair, or holding his hand, much like he was doing now. The only difference was that now, he didn’t have to hide the red rushing towards his cheeks.
“Hi Mike.”
Will smiled, the name carried by his voice like it was what it was made to do. He tried, but he couldn’t contain his grin, the so familiar sight of the boy he loved being too much joy to contain. He used to be embarrassed with how much he obsessed over him, but once Mike confessed how he felt the same way, anytime will felt that rush, it came with an extra kick, because he knew that Mike loved him too.
Mikes face also turned a little bit redder, the warmth spreading through his defined cheekbones, the ones Will had memorized like they were the map to his innermost desires. Whether the blushing was from the cold weather or the himself, he didn’t know, but the idea of it being the latter turned his face a little more pink as well.
“Hi honey.” Mike replied, his grin spreading wide across his face. Will rolled his eyes. Mike knew exactly what he was doing, and had been doing it ever since Will admitted that he thought pet names were embarrassing. Noticing his reaction, Mike smiled and stepped a little closer.
“Babe.”
Will couldn’t suppress a giggle.
“Sugar.”
Will snorted as he continued. However, the tone seemed to shift quickly this time.
Mike crept forward again, his now whispering voice hot on Wills face. He sucked in a breath.
“Beautiful.”
It wasn't enough, Mike pressed on. Will felt his face redden even more, and tried to feign confidence in his voice.
“Oh shut up.”
Sadly, Will's voice betrayed him, as a hint of nerves crept into the last moment, sending more blood rushing to his face, as he noticed a mischievous smile spreading across Mikes face. Will quickly looked down to conserve the last bit of his remaining dignity. Damn it.
It wasn't enough. Will realized he was holding his breath as he felt Mike's hands shifting to have one on the small of his back, and the other on the back of his neck.
“I just love you so much,” Mike whispered, eyes wide and innocent, their faces mere inches apart.
Will looked up, smirking. Mike knew exactly what he was doing. Pretending to be so naive, pushing him to his breaking point. He sighed, and started to protest.
“Mike, I’ve already told you what I feel about-“
He was instantly interrupted by Mike using his position to pull Will in, closing the distance between them, as he tilted his head to get the perfect angle for a kiss. Wills cockiness melted away as his eyes fluttered shut, and he took a sharp inhale through his nose. Mike's lips were warm and soft, and spread a gentle heat across Will's as they pressed gently together. Will brought his arms around mikes neck, softly clasping his hands together to keep the two right where they were, never wanting to leave.
They stayed there for a second, every moment an eternity, yet somehow not long enough. As Mike pulled back, still keeping his hands where they were, and maintaining their close distance, the kiss broke gently with a quiet sound. That sound was always a bittersweet noise for Will, signifying the existence but end of a tender moment. He opened his eyes, gazing up at Mike, whose hands had shifted from his neck to his back, keeping them in close contact.
“As you were saying? Something about me calling you annoying names?” Mike feigned innocence yet again, tilting his head to one side and raising his eyebrows, eyes wide and blinking. Will wasn’t even mad. His voice came out faint, barely even a whisper. An echo. It was embarrassing, but he needed to be brave. He could trust Mike.
“You can call me anything you want.”
Will stood silent as his words seemed to sink in. Mikes expression quickly shifted from playful to serious, looking into Will's eyes with the deepest of yearning. Will didn’t break his gaze from mikes eyes, but noticed him looking down at his lips. He got distracted and did the same with him. He could feel the heat radiating off of them, they were so close. They were slightly swollen which Will thought was so endearing. They both looked up at around the same time, as Will nervously looked back at Mike. Had he overstepped something? Luckily, he didn't have to worry for too long, as Mike uttered his response.
“How about mine?”
A wave of hope and joy washed over Will as he pulled himself up using Mike's neck, shifting his weight from his heels to the balls of his feet, trying his best to make up for the height difference. He shifted his arms from around Mike's neck to holding his face, as he pulled him in as close as possible to kiss him. He tilted his head to deepen the kiss, and Mike did the same. Moving their mouths in unison as they found their rhythm, like they always did.
Because they were always so in sync. It had always been Mike and Will. Will and Mike. No matter what happens, they always had each other, and they always Will. Through the highs and lows, ups and downs, Will knew he would always love Mike, and that Mike would always love him. Even though life could be hard, that would be enough. One of Will's hands shifted towards the back of Mike's head, sliding through the black curls he could paint from memory, gently scratching his scalp with his fingernails. Will felt a rush of air as Mike inhaled sharply through his nose, and in response, did it again, a little harder.
The result was immediate, mikes mouth dropped open, bringing wills with it. Will brushed his tongue against Mikes bottom lip, gentle and sweet. Immediately after, the kiss quickly morphed into something different than it was before, no longer sweet and innocent, it was a hunger. A fire. They pushed forward until neither of them could continue any longer.
Will pulled back at the same time as Mike, both gasping for air. Will couldn’t concentrate on anything other than mikes face, eyes familiar, but fueled with a passion unlike what he’d seen before. His mouth was pink and even more swollen than before, and Will wondered if his looked like that too. He wouldn't mind.
Mike laughed, the sudden noise startling enough to make Will jump a little, his nerves were still on edge.
“What? What’s wrong?” Will quickly responded, looking Mike up and down to try and figure out what was happening. Mike continued giggling as he gave voice to his thoughts, Will still looking confused and alarmed. “Shit will, I just…”
Mike looked around, breathing heavily. Wills brow crinkled, his face crumpling with worry. Had it really been that bad?
“What?”
Mike stopped looking to the sides, and shifted his attention back to Will. He seemed to realize the effect of his actions as he widened his eyes and dropped his jaw a little. “Oh! Oh, God- no. No, nothings wrong, I just..” Mike stared deep into Will's eyes, as if they would give him the words he needed. He regained his composure, taking on a more serious tone in his expression. Apparently, the windows to the soul did have the answers he needed, as after a moment, he whispered quietly,
“I love you so much.”
Wills breath hitched, and Mike continued gazing into his eyes as he tucked Will's hair behind his ears.
“I-I-I love you too, Mike, but why-” Will still was a bit confused, and needed a little more clarification. He loved Mike too, but he wasn't snickering.
“Why were you laughing?”
Mike answered the question by letting out an awkward giggle.
“You just, god Will, sorry.”
Mikes eyes shifted a bit, before focusing back on Will. “You just, you- you, you look really good!” Mike stammered and blurted out, moving on hand from Will's back to his own side, and the other grabbed onto his neck sheepishly.
Will looked at Mike's awkward figure for a second, a smile spreading across his face.
“Oh my god- you’re such an idiot.” He grinned, and shook his head. Suddenly, a random idea took root.
“Here, crouch down a little bit.”
Mike looked a little confused, but listened. Will crept back up onto his tip toes, and planted a kiss on his forehead, exaggerating the gesture with a loud, “Muah!” Still staying at the height he was, he looked down at Mike, smiling wide. “Don’t worry, I'm into idiots.”
Mike responded with a massive smile as he wrapped his arms around Will by the waist and picked him up. “WOAH!” Will yelped, the unexpected movement catching him off guard. Mike laughed at his terror, and spun around in a circle. After a moment of laughter shared by both Mike and Will, Mike set Will down. “Goddamn it, you’re amazing.” Mike chirped in awe. Will laughed. No one made him feel better about himself than Mike, even on his worst days. “Let me finish my painting, and we can go to that movie you were wanting to see.”
Apparently, this wasn't enough for him, as Mike sighed dramatically, acting annoyed. “But it’ll take forever, all of your masterpieces do.” Will snorted. “Please. There’s no way this is a masterpiece.” Mike grinned a little, and tilted his head downward so that he was looking up at him through his eyelashes. “But you are.”
Will rolled his eyes for what seemed like the millionth time that day, but couldn't suppress his laugh. After all, how could he say no to that face?
“All right, fine. We can head out now.” Mike smiled even wider, swiftly grabbing Will's easel with one arm, and Will's hand with the other. As they walked away from that spot in the park, his hand tingled when Mike rubbed circles with his fingers.
Just like the spring melted away the cold, Mike always had a way of melting Will's heart.