Chapter Text
Dustin POV:
Dustin Henderson was bored. Obviously he was grateful, downright overjoyed even, that he and his friends had killed that evil mother fucker back in November. Too much of their lives were sacrificed trying to save Hawkins from Henry and the Mindflayer, and not to toot their own horns, but they saved the whole goddamn world, too. And he knows, okay? He knows that he shouldn’t sit there and think about how mundane everything is now that they are free to go back to something resembling a life. But it’s hard to go from constant fight or flight to regular. To normal, everyday monotony.
He wasn’t the only one struggling, he knew that too. He could see it in the faces of his friends, that look of paranoia or doubt hiding deep behind their eyes. Wondering what if it’s not actually over or what if the other shoe drops? Everyone was always on guard, how do you turn that vigilance off when it’s no longer needed? No one talked about it. They all took the generously large government hush money, signed their NDAs, promised to be good little citizens and not reveal just how badly the military had fucked everything up. They all wanted, or rather deserved, a fresh start.
After losing Eddie, Dustin didn’t do a great job of living his life, he let his grief rip him apart and it almost got him killed. Eddie wouldn’t have wanted that, and if Dustin was being honest with himself, he was tired of being dragged down. That’s why he kept going through the motions now. Eventually, he hoped, it wouldn’t feel so performative. Maybe, just maybe, it would become authentic again. So, that was what brought him to the familiar setting of a D&D game in the Wheeler’s basement on a Friday night in late May. Six months after the near end of the world, and here he was feeling all existential but peaceful.
He watched silently as Mike tried, less than calmly, to explain to Max why her action of choice was ludicrous with the low number on her roll. Dustin’s eyes lingered fondly on El who was busy listening to every word they said like she could become the dungeon master herself, if she learned enough. Next he saw Lucas, sitting next to him, chin in his palm. Lucas was watching his girlfriend launch into her dramatic monologue about Mike being a controlling asshole with heart eyes. It made Dustin smile the way his best friend was so happy to have his girlfriend back, alive and feisty as ever. Since the end of it all, Lucas was probably the happiest, most well-adjusted one, and that was more than okay with Dustin. It had to be someone, why not Lucas?
He sighed contentedly and then looked to Will, another best friend. The one that went through the most out of the four boys that started the party. Will had always been the quietest one in the group but it had gotten worse after Henry. Will hardly talked to anyone for a while. No one blamed him, how could they, knowing what all he went through? Being abducted, assaulted, possessed…Dustin couldn’t fathom how little control Will probably felt. And then, having to come out as gay to everyone, including people he barely even knew, so that evil prick couldn’t use it against them. Having to peel away layers of masks he was hiding behind and exposing his true self, it must have felt so raw and overwhelming. Everyone gave him space, except for sometimes Mike who could be a bit too pushy, but they all made sure they were available when Will reached out.
As time moved on, Will had been slowly coming back to them. He was talking more and, even on occasion, smiling again. Like right now. Dustin watched and observed Will as he seemed to be genuinely enjoying the Mike and Max show. It was a little curious though, how the face Will had while gazing at Mike seemed so familiar. His eyes were soft and his lips turned up in the corner. His elbow was propped up in the table and he rested his cheek in the palm of his hand. Every so often a little huff of amusement would sound through Will’s nose.
Dustin was pulled from his reverie by a loud clap of Mike’s hands. “I think this is a good place for us to take a break anyway. It’s getting late, Max is being a whiny little shit, I’m hungry…let’s call it for the night, huh?”
Max groaned, “Oh don’t put this on me Wheeler!”
“I’m not! I literally said I’m hungry and it’s late too. Your whiny ass is only part of it,” Mike popped off.
She rolled her eyes and then laughed as she punched Mike in the arm, not exactly hard, but enough to make him wince. He rolled his eyes but then quickly threw his arm around her neck and started ruffling her hair. She cackled and kicked, but ultimately, everyone knew she didn’t mind. She had actually told Dustin and Lucas once that she really did feel like Mike was a ‘kindred spirit’ and she didn’t actually ‘want him to die or anything’. She swore them to secrecy upon threat of dismemberment. Dustin knew that they had a sibling like bond, and they were too alike to really hate each other.
Things were really looking up, summer was upon them and their senior year approaching quickly behind it. He had his friends and his health, but he was still bored.
Shit, maybe he needed a new project.
————
Will POV:
Will loved the summer and all the warmth it brought with it. He had woken up that Saturday morning unusually calm. It was the first night in a long while that he didn’t wake up clutching his chest and sobbing, having relived moments throughout the night from the Upside Down. He actually had a smile on his face and didn’t even mind the sliver of sun peeking in through his curtains and shining across his sleepy face.
He thought back to how much fun he had with his friends the night before, chuckled fondly at the memory of Mike and Max’s bickering over D&D and El’s excitement to be included. His sister had been recovering so much better than anyone thought was possible, and seeing her joy helped to restore his. It turned out that she became even more of a hero to him after the fighting was over, when he saw her be brave enough to live a life she never knew she could have. He decided that he would do the same.
As if she could hear Will’s thoughts about her, (well she could if she wanted but she promised never to do that without permission) she knocked lightly on his door, “Will?”
Will’s voice was gravelly from being unused, “Come in.”
El opened the door and bounced into the room, her sweet brown eyes sparkling. She pushed his legs out of the way so she could sit next to him on the bed. “Hey!” he complained and kicked at her playfully.
“It’s 11:00.”
He rolled his eyes at her. “Thanks for the update Big Ben.” She tilted her head and looked at him intently, trying to figure it out. Will attempted to rub the sleepiness out of his eyes and sat up. “Sorry, you probably haven’t heard of Big Ben, huh? It’s a famous clock tower in London. I was being sarcastic again.”
“I’m still practicing my figurative language with my tutor. I’ll ask her about Big Ben though!” Will smiled at her. She loved learning so much and she had started working right away to get caught up so she could go to school with the group in August. She may have been the biggest nerd of all of them when all was said and done. “Dustin called this morning and said he convinced Steve to let us come to his house to swim today.”
“That sounds fun, when?”
“Like 3:00 I think. I’ve never been to a pool party.” El’s face was equal parts eager and anxious. “I’m not a very good swimmer,” she admitted.
Will remembered helping teach her when they lived in Lenora. She was so embarrassed that she had to be taught how to swim at their age but she picked it up quickly. Joyce was so proud of her the first time she swam across the pool and back. He nudged her knee with his toes, “You’re better than you think you are. Besides, we won’t be swimming laps or anything, it’ll just be us playing games and hanging out in the water.” She grinned, looking a bit more relaxed.
Several hours had passed and Dustin’s car pulled into the driveway at Will’s house. He and El said a rushed goodbye to their parents and excitedly raced to the car to try to get shot gun. Just as Will was almost in arms reach of the car he felt an invisible pull that stopped him in his tracks long enough for El to open the door and calmly sit inside.
Will huffed indignantly, “Cheater!” El shrugged her shoulders and buckled the seat belt. Will looked to Dustin for support, “Tell her that’s cheating!”
Dustin threw up his hands and looked back and forth between Will’s irritated growl and El’s smug smirk. “I told you guys I wouldn’t be breaking up your little sibling tiffs anymore. Just get in man, I told Mike we would pick him up by now.”
Without meaning to, Will relaxed his shoulders. “I thought Mike was going to be late?”
“He called just before I left and said he got off work early.”
Will smiled to himself and shut El’s door for her before happily climbing in the back. Obviously, he felt silly that the mere mention of Mike’s name would so quickly alter his mood, but he couldn’t help it. As he settled comfortably in the back, he glanced to the front and saw Dustin’s eyes trained directly on him, one quizzical brow lifted. Will quickly looked away, hoping Dustin didn’t notice how eager Will was to sit next to Mike.
Mike was already outside waiting as they pulled into the Wheeler’s driveway. “You’re late!” he yelled at Dustin as he climbed in next to Will.
Dustin scoffed, “It’s not my fault, these two were fighting over the front seat!”
Mike smirked, “Again?” He glanced between the siblings and then locked eyes with Will, shaking his head.
El rolled her eyes, “He’s just a sore loser.”
“I’m not being a sore loser, you cheated! Oh my God.” Will directed his attention to Mike, gesturing emphatically. “She used her powers to keep me from getting to the car before her.”
Mike looked at him softly and grinned, “What a cheater.”
“Exactly, thank you!” Will beamed and turned to the window hoping that the heat he felt in his cheeks wasn’t noticeable.
The drive to Steve’s seemed much shorter once Mike joined them. Will knew that he needed to move on and get over his feelings for his best friend, but it was hard when there weren’t exactly viable relationship options for him in Hawkins. It also didn’t help that he got what Mike had been calling ‘Will’s Best Friend Privileges’, things like siding with him over other members of the party no matter what.Therefore, he decided to give himself permission to continue pining uselessly for his best friend. He would get over him in college, for now, he would try to enjoy those little things that Mike did for him that made the butterflies in his stomach flutter.
Ever since that mindset shift, he didn’t cry over Mike anymore. He knew that there was no chance Mike felt the same, he knew now that Will was gay so he would have said something if the feelings were returned. Will didn’t explicitly say that Mike was his crush, but he had to know at this point, right? They probably all did, but no one said anything to him and he just pretended like they didn’t know. Besides, Mike didn’t seem bothered by the crush so why not? He was determined, for once in his life, to just enjoy it.
———
Dustin POV:
Dustin grinned as he got out of the car and saw Robin standing at Steve’s door. “Harrington! The rest of our children are here!”
“Our children? Excuse me, when did I give you parental rights?” Steve joked as he walked past her and down the porch steps. “It’s about time Henderson! Hey guys, come on back. There’s snacks and drinks in the kitchen, pool is out back. The others are already back there.” He pointed toward the backyard with his thumb over his shoulder as he reached up with his other hand to knock Dustin’s hat from his head.
Dustin shoved Steve, “Cut it out asshole!” He didn’t mean it, he loved how Steve felt like an older brother. He wouldn’t have made it without the guy. The group all headed toward the pool. Dustin laid a towel down on the chair next to El’s things and called out to greet the rest of the group, “Lucas! Max!” They stopped play fighting long enough to wave back before Max tackled Lucas and dragged him under water.
Dustin chuckled to himself and plopped down onto the chair to relax for a bit, enjoying the sunshine and smell of chlorine. He watched as El fussed with the tie on her shorts before she took them off and carefully stepped into the pool. His heart beat a little faster so he quickly looked away and noticed Will sitting on his towel, leaned back against his palms, sunglasses perched on his nose. He seemed miles away, wearing a face so neutral it almost looked rehearsed. Dustin frowned, worried that something was wrong, until he noticed that directly in his eye-line, Mike was removing his t-shirt to get in the pool. He glanced back at Will in time to see his cheeks flush, almost imperceptibly, and his bottom lip slightly tucked between his teeth.
That was the same way Dustin had just looked at El, and not that it was anyone’s business, he only looked at her that way because he was pretty sure that she was the prettiest, sweetest, and most incredible girl in the world. He may have been a little bit in love with her, but she was not an option, you can’t date a friend’s ex. He was out of luck, so he had to accept that it wasn’t going to happen.
Dustin worked very hard to remain as normal as possible around her, and that rehearsed, unbothered demeanor had become a dear friend of his. That’s why when he noticed those same expressions on Will’s face anytime Mike was around, he put the puzzle pieces together. Mike was the crush Will mentioned when he came out. Mike was Tammy!
No one ever talked about it after Will told them, they wanted to be considerate of their friend that just unloaded this giant secret that he had been burdened with alone for far too long. It was a bit surprising to Dustin that Mike was Tammy, he always assumed it was Lucas. Lucas was easily the most attractive of the guys by society’s standards, right? But hey, who was he to judge. Poor Will though, having feelings for a straight guy couldn’t be easy. He wondered if Mike already knew, Dustin hoped not, for Will’s sake.
Dustin kept watching the remainder of the evening, to see if Mike would give any clue as to whether he was aware of Will’s feelings. The weird thing was, Dustin began to notice things. Things that initially wouldn’t have seemed out of place, at least not with those two. They were always so close, but this seemed different. For example, when Will removed his own shirt, did Mike’s eyes widen for a moment? And when Will asked El to get out of the pool and put sunscreen on his back, Mike said he was getting out anyway and he could help.
Now that Dustin had seen it, he couldn’t help but see all the little things that Mike did. No wonder Will liked him, Mike was sending some very confusing signals. Things kept getting more and more confusing as the night went on.
First, it was the sunscreen situation. Which, by the way, Mike seemed to really take his time on. Making sure Will’s entire back had a thick layer of lotion spread across it twice. Second, there were so many shared looks. So many! Anytime the group laughed, those two looked to each other, as if to see how they should react. If there was a loud and startling noise, Mike almost instinctively moved closer to Will, not that there was ever that much space between them anyway.
Then, when the sun was lowering in the sky and everyone had gotten out of the pool to dry off, there weren’t enough lounge chairs for everyone to sit, even with Max sitting on Lucas’s lap. Mike insisted that Will take his chair. Will refused and they went back and forth, neither caving. Finally, Dustin spoke up, just to see the reaction. “They’re big chairs guys. If you lay the top back, I bet you could both sit on it.” As Dustin had started to expect, neither of them hesitated. They were shoulder to shoulder, knee to knee, the whole time.
At one point, Will finished his soda by tipping the can up and his head back. Mike was stealthy, but not enough to hide from Dustin’s inscrutable eye, watching Will’s adam’s apple bob as he swallowed and actually licked his lips when he looked away quickly. Dustin asked himself how he had never suspected this before, as he saw Mike get up without a word, head inside, and return with two new sodas, one for him and one for Will. Will blushed as he thanked Mike, who also had a faint tint of pink on his cheeks. Mike didn’t even open his own can, it sat untouched for an hour.
The thing that really hit the point home, that had Dustin almost certain that his two friends were painfully in love with each other, was what happened whenever they were apart. They kept looking for each other, like the party felt just a little off until they were back in the same orbit. When Will got caught up in one of Robin’s animated stories about college life and Mike was being harassed by Lucas about something on the other side of the pool, the two of them would stare at each other. It was never at the same time, the second one noticed the other, he would look away immediately. Mike was watching Will just as closely as Will watched him.
The last straw was the way they said goodnight when they dropped Mike off at home. Dustin watched in the rear view mirror as Will shot Mike a small smile and Mike looked like he wanted to say something but wasn’t sure what.
Mike finally sputtered out, obviously only speaking to Will. “Well…I guess I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Yup,” Will replied then chewed on his lip.
“You’ll come by at 5:00?”
“Right.”
Mike started to get out and then turned back, “Don’t forget your sketchbook, I want to see if you can sketch out the new character I’m adding to the campaign.”
“Okay.”
“Night, Will.” He still didn’t get out of the car. Dustin glanced over at El who seemed to be blissfully sleeping against the passenger window, completely oblivious to the scene behind her.
“G’Night Mike,” Will said softly.
Dustin couldn’t take it anymore, “Goodnight, Mike.” Both boys in the backseat snapped their heads back to the front, eyes wide like they forgot they weren’t alone. “Jesus,” he muttered under his breath.
“Bye, Dustin,” Mike murmured as he finally exited the vehicle.
By the time Dustin got home, he was sure of it. Those two idiots were in love and neither one was brave enough to do anything about it. He hopped in the shower, silently admonishing himself for not recognizing it before. Then he had the best idea. Or the worst idea, he wasn’t sure, but he was trying to be an optimist so he allowed himself to go down the mental rabbit hole. He was going to get them together, he was going to be their matchmaker.
He just needed to approach this task the way he always did, methodically, as a scientist. Before he climbed in bed, he found a small notebook and turned to the first empty page. At the top center he labeled it ‘Case Study: Mike and Will-Two Idiots In Love’. Beneath it he used bullet points to list his observations from the evening:
‘Observation #1: Subjects voluntarily remained within approximately six feet of one another for 87% of the pool party.
Observation #2: Excessive smiling directed exclusively toward one another.
Observation #3: Subjects displayed obvious reluctance to separate.
Observation #4: Subjects demonstrated an unusually high frequency of mutual eye contact. Many instances were sustained for several seconds before one or both subjects looked away and smiled.
Observation #5: Facial coloration increased noticeably during one-on-one interactions. Both subjects exhibited repeated reddening of the cheeks, particularly following compliments, prolonged eye contact, or physical proximity.
Observation #6: Subject M consistently anticipated Subject W’s needs without verbal prompting. Examples included retrieving food and drinks, offering a towel, applying sunscreen to Subject W’s back, and checking whether Subject W needed anything before attending to his own needs.
Special Note: Subject W displayed no surprise at Subject M’s caretaking behaviors, suggesting this pattern is well established rather than situational.
Observation #7: Subjects exchanged numerous nonverbal shared looks across the pool area. These glances frequently resulted in simultaneous smiles despite no verbal communication occurring.
Observation #8: Goodbye sequence lasted 2 minutes and 46 seconds despite having nothing left to say.
Neither subject appeared consciously aware that the above behaviors differed substantially from those displayed with other friends. This leads me to the preliminary assessment that evidence is becoming increasingly difficult to explain through platonic friendship alone.’
Dustin started to shut the notebook, but hummed at a thought. He added one more note.
‘Additionally, both subjects are spectacularly oblivious.’
With that, Dustin shut his notebook with every intention of planning out his experiment tomorrow, and headed to bed. He was peacefully asleep within minutes. Matchmaking was exhausting!