Work Text:
7/15/2009
Mike Byers-Wheeler slowly woke up to hushed whispers and silent giggles outside his bedroom door, along with some muffled noises.
Pale strips of sunlight pierced through the glass windows, spreading across the blankets in blinding blades. The entirety of the master bedroom was bathed in a bright yellow glow, the radiant light bouncing off of every surface.
Ellie the dog was sleeping at the foot of the bed, floating off to a very deep slumber that not even a world-splitting earthquake could awaken her from. The eggshell white furry fluffball with chocolate brown spots was lovable, but totally sluggish and placid. Mike was careful not to accidentally waterfall the hefty blanket on his cherished pet as his hazy vision steadily loaded into focus.
Mike yawned quietly but with a wide oval mouth, a bare drop of drool trickling down his mouth before he wiped it away with the back of his wrist and smeared it onto his wrinkled sleeve. He turned his head towards his beautiful husband Will, who had his limbs sprawled out and mouth hung open in a froggy snore. He was wearing a goldenrod yellow shirt that hugged his muscles nicely, sparking a certain feeling inside of Mike. Will's bottom half was covered by the gentle, lumpy blanket, and Mike smiled sweetly to himself despite still being exhausted out of his mind.
Will was perfect, absolutely perfect. And that mindset hadn't changed in the two decades they had spent in unconditional love with one another.
Mike settled back into his laying position, his eyelids turning heavier and heavier with each passing second, and he was about to dig his head in the unbelievably soft pillow and drift back to sleep, when the door swung open with a woody thud.
The rhythmic pattering of tiny footsteps approaching tutted in the fresh morning air, with a few delicate giggles accompanying it. Before Mike's ears could even register it, he felt huge bounces on the bed which knocked the air out of his lungs and made his eyes snap wide open.
“BOO!!” 9 year old Trevor and Ziggy chorused loudly, their shrill voices blaring throughout the whole room. The coils sprung under their weight as the two boys pranked their dad with the oldest scare in the book. It seemed to work, unfortunately.
Mike yelped like a yodeler, jerking violently and his heart suddenly running a million miles an hour. Will's eyes also flew open and he jolted, panicked eyes darting from Mike to his two kids on the bed before both of the men's faces relaxed.
Trevor and Ziggy howled in melodious hyena-like laughter, rolling and crawling around on the bed, the sheets rustling aloud in the air. The twins were wearing all green, with Trevor wearing a lime green T-shirt and shorts and Ziggy wearing a dark murky green jumper and capris. Mike sighs in slight annoyance and Will just chuckles under his breath.
“Good morning, my darlings.” He rasps, his usually velvety voice strained and raw due to literally just being the victim to his children's brutal wake up call. Trevor giggles and crawls into Will's lap and Ziggy collapses his leg onto Mike's trembling thigh. Trevor opened his big innocent brown eyes, doe and buggy.
“Wakey-wakey, papa!!” Trevor happily replied, screeching in joy when Will moved his lanky fingers to rearrange the little boy's wavy raven-black locks out of his shining bubble eyes and faintly-spotted rosy cheeks.
“M-Morning…” Ziggy mumbles blurrily into Mike's side, his extreme timid shyness now washing over him now that the prank was over. He gingerly rubbed his face against the cloth of Mike's shirt, and Mike's heart could have detonated right there in his chest.
“Rise and shine, sweetheart.” Mike cooed gently, lightly massaging Ziggy's drooped but tense shoulder. “Next time, just normally wake us up, okay? Papa and Daddy need their beauty sleep sometimes.”
“Haha! You guys got sooo scared!!” Trevor teased, rolling onto his stomach and rapidly kicking his feet back and forth in the span of a few milliseconds, showing off his granny smith green fuzzy knee socks in a blur. “Daddy screamed like he saw a ghost! Like ‘ahhh!’” He reenacts Mike's shriek in a dramatic and theatrical manner.
“Yes, yes he did.” Will breathes out in defeat, failing to stifle an amused smirk. Mike pouted and placed a fist on his hip, the hip that didn't have his kid perched on it. Ziggy snickered at his father's pout, drawing his own knees to his chest. Mike rolled his eyes.
“Okay, okay. You got me. But you would have squealed too.” Mike scoffs, his pride being chipped at one by one by his own family. Will lets out a musically pleasing laugh, which makes heat creep up Mike's neck and ears.
Trevor mirrors his dad's laugh, dangling his feet off of the bed and hopping off like a newborn frog. Just then, his stomach growls, the sound clear and grumbly. “Breakfast time!” Trevor announces like a general, marching out of the room in a flash. That kid could defy the speed of light at just 9 years old, both Mike and Will still couldn't believe how fast he really was.
“Slow down, don't trip!” Will calls out, rubbing his crusted eyes so hard that colourful dots burst behind his eyelids before stretching out his arms and legs, releasing a satisfied yawn.
Mike licks and pops his lips before scooping Ziggy up in his arms and attempting to place him down on the tiled floor. “Want to go help your brother get the plates and bowls out? Me and Pop will be right there.” He hummed.
Ziggy frantically shook his head, his puffy bottom lip wobbling as his little hands gripped onto Mike's shirt so tight that his knuckles were starting to fade to a concerning white. “Noo, I want to stay with you.” He whined, clinging onto Mike with all that he had. Mike exhaled through his nose as Ziggy continued to whimper and stay as still as possible.
Ziggy had always been an incredibly clingy child, always latching onto Mike or Will like a leech at any given moment. A metaphorical, adorable leech, obviously.
“What if the aliens come and abduct me while you're gone?” Ziggy whispers under his breath like it's a bizarre government secret he can't legally spill instead of just some childish, superstitious myth.
“I know, baby. But aliens aren't real, I told you before. They won't hurt you, I swear. However, I have to change clothes, and me and your father will be out before you can count to 50.” Mike reassures him. Ziggy's eyes expanded to dinner plates, his pout growing heavy and his nose scrunching up, making Mike's heart ache.
“But- 50 is a huge number!” Ziggy babbles, dangerously close to throwing a tantrum. That's when Will comes in to rescue Mike and save the day, inching towards his husband and dear child.
“Sweet pea, your dad needs to change his clothes. He's all sweaty. We won't disappear, okay? I promise.” Will chimes in, his voice low and as sweet and smooth as clear honey. Ziggy swallows and nods, finally landing on his feet (careful not to smack Ellie in the fluffy beady-eyed face with his heels) and sauntering out of the room, head hung low and his midnight curls bouncing around slightly. “Okay…” He mutters glumly.
The door closes with a sharp click, and Mike lets out a breath he had no idea he was holding in so desperately. He lifts himself off the bed while Will chuckles again, cracking his knuckles and stretching his muscles again.
“Those two are way too hyper and excited…” Mike's tired voice trails off when he checks the alarm clock with the flaring red numbers. “...at 8:20 in the morning.” He huffs out with a smile. A grin spreads across Will's face.
“Aww, they're just kids, babe.” He replies playfully. Mike clears his throat as he slides his wardrobe door open, picking out his outfit for the day. He was starting to sweat a lot in these pajamas, and he quickly made a plan to take a shower after Trevor and Ziggy had their breakfast.
Mike unhooked a clothing hanger off the rack which had a bright turquoise shirt hanging off of it. Content with his choice, Mike smiled and headed towards the mirror, shuffling his shirt off without giving a second thought to it, goosebumps erupting all over his spine.
All that stared back at him were his top surgery scars, ugly and slashed and raising on his skin. They felt more like blatant insults than trophies of victory. They were a murky light brown colour, and the stitches strayed across them like thin stubby slits. The edges were turning a muddled yellow, heavily contrasting with the rest of his milky white skin.
Mike's mood soured immensely, his eyebrows furrowing together at his harsh scars and his lips drooping in a depressed frown. Will noticed immediately, his eyes widening at Mike's discomfort and he instantly moved towards him like his feet had minds of their own.
“Hey…” He whispered lovingly, wrapping his hands around Mike's waist, feeling him quiver at the touch. “What's wrong, my love?”
“I just…” Mike choked out, his throat feeling right and narrow like his own conflicting emotions were suffocating him. “I feel so ugly. I hate it.” He admitted, eyes welling with imminent tears. His voice got louder without him realizing it. “It's been 8 years, why won't they just heal??”
Will nodded in sympathetic, unfortunate understanding, his heart breaking into two at his own husband bringing himself down. If Will was even half as gorgeous as Mike was, he would never shut up about it.
“Mike, look at me.” Will demands lightly, turning Mike around to face him, their faces barely any inches apart. The black-haired man's face seemed washed in red, all from embarrassment and fluster and shame, and he sniffled sharply while trying to blink the tears away.
“You will never be ugly, you hear me? Not in my eyes, not ever. You are beautiful in every way, shape and form. I worship and adore every centimeter of you.” Will poured all his feelings out, his arms looping around his beloved paladin and his thumbs soothingly rubbing circles on Mike's back.
Mike sniffs, his dusty coral red nose twitching and his lips clamped together. His shoulders were starting to shake, tremors rippling under his porcelain skin.
“L-Love you…so much.” Mike croaks out, fiercely fighting back tears with all his might. His muscles turn to liquid, like he was melting in Will's tight, comforting hug and basking in his solace. Will holds his beloved in his arms and starts peppering the other's body in kisses, making him gasp and squirm deliciously.
“Love you.” Will declares his eternal love out loud with utter sincerity lacing his words, pressing a hard kiss to Mike's chest and causing him to flinch. Mike bites and gnaws his lip so hard he tastes copper, struggling not to sigh, or even moan.
“Love you. Love this. Love you.” Will repeats dizzily over and over like an undying mantra, cycling between kissing Mike's neck to his chest to his blotched cheeks.
“You're so strong, Mike. So strong. I'm so proud of you.” Will spills out all at once, suckling on Mike's feverish red shoulder.
Mike drowns in the excessive affection, his lips turning into a squiggly, bashful line. The two of them sank and attracted to each other like magnets, destined to be, beyond an astronomical extent. They were always fated to be together from the very start. And after all these years of being a brave paladin and a clever cleric, that string of fiery love had only strengthened and flared brighter, and absolutely nothing, no obstacle that they encountered on their pathway through life, could ever even think of extinguishing it.
Trevor and Ziggy had only given that string and even more lively sparkle to it. Mike and Will couldn't be happier with anything else.
Suddenly, a shattering crash explodes from the kitchen, slicing through the door. Mike and Will instantly stop what they're doing and whip their heads to the door with bulging eyes.
“What was that?!” Mike shouts in panic and concern. Will doesn't even have time to answer him before they both dash towards the kitchen at full speed, with Mike shaking on his shirt in the process.
As soon as they got to the kitchen, they both saw a disastrous sight before them. Trevor was guiltily standing over a broken bowl, all the dove-white glittering shards splattered everywhere across the floor in multiple razor-sharp pieces, differentiating greatly from the walnut wood flooring.
Ziggy was sitting in his seat, looking horrified and shocked to the core, completely frozen like an ice statue. Trevor's eyes were popping out of his sockets, jaw dropped to the floor and his expression filled top to bottom with copious amounts of guilt and remorse and shame. His small figure was locked in place, with only his hands shuddering.
Will swallowed and looked at Mike, who just sighed thickly in disappointment and squeezed his eyes shut, pinching the bridge of his nose and pressing his brows together. “Kids-”
“It was Ziggy!” Trevor blurted out in a frenzy before Mike could finish his frustrated lecture, his voice wild with terror as he jerked an accusatory finger at his twin brother.
“It was the aliens! The ghosts!” Ziggy accused, his voice echoing louder. Even when the answer was extremely obvious, he still didn't want to put his brother at fault. “I told you they were real!!”
“Nobody is to blame.” Will cut in before the kitchen could become yet another sibling war zone. His voice wasn't anywhere close to angry, but it was strict and firm. “Trevor, go and grab the broom please. Ziggy, please go and get the dustpan. They're both in the hallway closet.” He informed his two kids gently, crouching down to try and carefully sweep up the shards with his palms. Trevor saluted like a soldier taking on a huge, heroic mission.
“Aye aye, captain! I'm sorry! Come on Zigzag!” He cheeped in a trice while already galloping to the closet, mentally locating the ordered destination. Ziggy hesitated but got out of his seat, springing to action and quickly failing to keep up with his brother’s energetic attitude and pace, chasing after him. Mike exhaled out his mouth, every ounce of former rage leaving his body.
“How did he manage to get up to those cabinets, anyway?” Mike asked absentmindedly while staring at the high above cabinets in a state of wavering shock. Will shrugged, the glass shards clattering and clinking together, the sounds serving as a sad reminder that it once used to be a bowl that cost $10 on sale.
“Who knows how they do anything.” Will joked with a smirk, sweeping all the blades in one spiky pile. “Although, I'm guessing it has something to do with that suspiciously placed stool.” He adds, bobbing his head towards the tall stool strategically placed in front of the counter.
Mike blinks, then sinks down to his knees, his shoulder bumping into Will's. “I almost lost my temper there.”
“I'm glad you didn't.” Will casually replied, eyes fixated on the cutest smattering of freckles and dipped dents on Mike's upper thigh. Mike rolls his eyes.
“I would never.” He shoots back and Will just snorts in response, ducking to peck Mike's cheek, making him turn as pink as a flamingo’s feathers once again.
The two lovers share a look and they both smile radiantly at each other, their hearts thumping against their ribcage in synchronized unison. Will spoke up after a comfortable pause. “Uh, Trevor and Ziggy were wearing green.” He stammers out. Mike arches an eyebrow.
“So?” He asks, slightly curious.
“Uhm, blue and yellow makes green. A very special shade of green.” Will concluded what he was implying, pointing to his and Mike's shirt. The puzzle pieces finally click together in Mike's head and he bursts into bashful laughter, blissful music to Will's ears.
God, Will Byers was truly the luckiest man alive. What kind of honorable, outstanding, excellent act did he commit in his past life to deserve all this splendor?
“Oh my god, that's so corny.” Mike chortles with a fond grin, resting his head onto the crook of Will's shoulder. “But I love it. That's so beautiful. I love them, I love you, I love our family so, so much.”
The brunet man's heart swells up, a ball of pure devoted affection throbbing inside his throat as he nuzzles his head against his husband's, relishing in the peaceful moment before the tiny footsteps and muffled giggles come rattling back. Before the most important chapters to their book of life came running back to complete them.
Neither Mike or Will wanted this lovely moment to ever end, the beauty of colour theory still swirling in their brains and hearts. Family really was a special thing. It was everything that the happy couple could ever want, and there were more uniquely mischievous mornings ahead of them.
“Your very own little family is the best team you could ever have.” -Unknown ♡